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Water reuse has been standard practice in many drier countries for decades, and Estonia is now moving in the same direction. The amendment to the Water Act approved by the Government today creates a prerequisite for water recycling in Estonia.
"We are still used to the richness of water in Estonia, but due to climate change, droughts are becoming more frequent and in many regions of Estonia there is not enough drinking water for the population during the summer. Therefore, it is also time for us to start using water more economically," said Kaupo Läänerand, Undersecretary for Maritime Affairs and the Aquatic Environment of the Ministry of the Climate, noting that street washing and watering green areas with domestic water that is clean with drinking water could be abandoned, for example.
According to Lääneranna, several Estonian industrial companies are also interested in the possibilities of introducing alternative water resources, because there are quantitative limits for taking water from rivers, lakes and groundwater. "The water necessary for their life must be preserved for aquatic biota, and the consumption of groundwater cannot be grown indefinitely either. That is why we wanted to modernise the legal space in this area," explained Läänerand.
In the future, it will be possible to irrigate agricultural lands and landscaping with used water that has undergone additional cleaning, clean the streets and use it in the chemical industry. This is provided that potential health and environmental risks are mitigated and the environment is not burdened with hazardous substances. For example, reclaimed water used for irrigation of green spaces must be microbiologically safe.
How clean the reclaimed water must be and where it can be used will be determined by the water permit. Water recyclers shall also submit a risk management plan describing the origin of the reclaimed water, how it has been treated, what parameters it meets and how it can be used and how its safety for humans and the environment is ensured. If reclaimed water is to be used for agricultural irrigation, the risk management plan must also be coordinated with the Agriculture and Food Board.
The new law primarily concerns water companies, mining companies and industrial enterprises with high water consumption. The amendment to the law does not create new obligations - the reuse of water is a voluntary option, for which the state has now also created a set of legal rules.
