Policy Brief - Accelerating water smartness by successfully implementing the EU Water Reuse Regulation (2020/741)

Water is vital for health, agriculture, and energy, but freshwater resources face growing pressure. To address this, the EU introduced the 2023 Regulation on Minimum Requirements for Water Reuse, promoting treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation. This brief examines Portugal's legal framework, challenges, and success practices, offering recommendations for EU-wide implementation. Insights come from Horizon 2020 projects B-WaterSmart and WATER-MINING, which focus on innovative solutions for water cycle circularity.