From Wastewater to Water Security for Prosperity: Accelerating Safe Reuse through Innovation, Community Action and Citizen Engagement

ABSTRACT

Water scarcity, climate change, pollution, and growing demands from agriculture are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources worldwide. Safe and sustainable wastewater reuse is increasingly recognized as a strategic solution to strengthen water security, improve resilience, and support economic prosperity. Yet achieving water security requires not only large-scale infrastructure investments and regulatory frameworks, but also community-driven initiatives capable of addressing local needs while larger projects are being planned and implemented.

This side event will explore how advanced water treatment and reuse can transform wastewater from an environmental challenge into a valuable resource. Particular attention will be given to emerging contaminants and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), two critical issues increasingly influencing public health,
environmental protection, and trust in water reuse schemes.

Bringing together representatives from the International Ozone Association, European Commission, Water Europe, research institutions, utilities, technology providers, and innovation organizations such as Eurecat, the discussion will highlight how innovation, regulation, scientific evidence, and citizen participation can accelerate the safe deployment of water reuse practices in agriculture and local communities.

The event will showcase recent European experiences, including the implementation of the EU Water Reuse Regulation, advances in oxidation and ozone-based technologies, risk-based approaches for monitoring contaminants of emerging concern, and strategies for mitigating AMR dissemination through water systems.

Special attention will be devoted to the role of the Cassandra Project, which
demonstrates how small-scale, community-led water initiatives can complement large water infrastructure investments. Through citizen engagement and
innovative crowdfunding mechanisms, local communities can directly support practical solutions that address immediate water challenges, strengthen resilience, and create tangible benefits while waiting for larger public investments to materialize.

Participants will explore how bottom-up initiatives originating from the needs of local communities can become catalysts for innovation, social acceptance, and trust in water reuse. By empowering citizens not only as beneficiaries but also as
contributors and co-investors, projects such as Cassandra Project illustrate a replicable pathway for accelerating water security actions across Europe and beyond.

The session will address policy frameworks, technological solutions, financing
models, and collaborative actions needed to scale both large strategic investments and smaller community-driven interventions, supporting the transition towards a water-smart, pollution-free, and socially inclusive society.

The event aims to generate practical recommendations for integrating water reuse into broader water security, public health, climate resilience, and sustainable development agendas, demonstrating that achieving SDG6 requires action at every scale, from major regional infrastructure projects to citizen-supported local initiatives that emerge directly from community needs.