Overcoming Barriers to Circular Economy Solutions in Water Reuse Projects

In the MARCLAIMED Work Package 3, Fresh Thoughts Consulting is focusing on the challenges faced by circular economy initiatives, particularly those centred on treated water reuse. The objective is to identify, classify, and address the various barriers hindering the implementation and uptake of these initiatives. The barriers are categorised into six key areas: Technology, Economic, Financial, Social, Institutional, Regulatory, and Permitting Procedures, as well as knowledge gaps.
Barriers and Challenges Identified Our research so far has compiled a comprehensive list of these challenges, as identified in literature and practice. A few highlights include:
- Technological Challenges: Availability and feasibility of technical solutions for water reuse can often be restrictive, especially in areas with specific needs, such as urban settings with limited space for implementation.
- Economic and Financial Barriers: Issues such as the absence of standardized pricing for recycled water, high upfront costs for new technologies, and limited financial incentives can deter the development of water reuse projects.
- Social Perceptions and Acceptance: Lack of clear information on recycled water can lead to misconceptions and fears about health risks, often resulting in resistance from both users and stakeholders, including farmers and the general public.
- Institutional and Regulatory Hurdles: Lack of coordination between administrative bodies, stringent regulations, and unclear standards for new technologies create significant barriers to the development of water reuse initiatives.
- Permitting and Knowledge Gaps: Complex permitting procedures and insufficient expertise in managing new technologies also play a role in slowing down the implementation of these circular economy solutions.
Your Input is Valuable: To further develop and refine this overview-list with real-world examples and experiences, we are considering reaching out to our network and the public through social media. We aim to gather insights from those who have encountered barriers in water reuse initiatives. This will enable us to document a more robust and practical list of challenges, with the ultimate goal of fostering better understanding and solutions for the circular water economy.
We want to hear from you!
Send us your feedback by the 30th of November 2024. Write an email to info@marclaimed.eu.