France: reuse of treated wastewater, a strategic challenge in the face of water stress

As France experiences increasingly severe and frequent periods of drought, sustainable water management is becoming imperative. In this context, the reuse of treated wastewater (REUT) appears to be a concrete and effective response to reducing pressure on natural resources.

Unlike some countries in the Mediterranean basin, such as Spain and Israel, France has long lagged behind in the development of Reuse of treated wastewater. In 2023, less than 1% of treated wastewater was reused, compared to more than 10% in Italy and nearly 90% in Israel. This lag is largely due to a historically restrictive regulatory framework and complex authorization procedures.

However, the potential is immense: it is estimated that French wastewater treatment plants could produce hundreds of millions of cubic meters of reusable water each year, particularly for agricultural, urban, or industrial uses.

Legislation is evolving to remove these obstacles. The 2020 Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy Act (AGEC) and recent European directives on REUT now encourage the development of local projects. Calls for projects have been launched by water agencies to support investment in advanced treatment processes: membrane filtration, UV, ozonation, etc…

The decree of March 10, 2022, regulating non-domestic uses of treated water simplifies the procedures for local authorities and industrial companies wishing to reuse treated effluent.

There are an increasing number of use cases: watering sports fields, cleaning roads, irrigating vegetable crops, supplying cooling circuits, etc. In several regions of southern France (Occitanie, Provence, Nouvelle-Aquitaine), pilot projects have shown that REUT makes it possible to secure water supplies, reduce dependence on drinking water, and limit discharges into the natural environment.