| Abstract |
The circular economy approach has an increasing interest in water reuse, reclaimed water, or recycled wastewater in connection to water scarcity concerns and increased water demands by all sectors. Given pollution and degraded ecosystems, inequity, and low numbers or, in some cases, the lack of a sustainable urban drinking water and sewerage service, in response to the closure of the water loop and to extend the life of water resources, consider water reuse, with economic costs, social and environmental benefits. Circular economy initiatives can also help attract the private sector by creating new business models, adding new funding sources. The European Union policy identifies the use of treated wastewater as one potential solution to water scarcity. The International Water Association (IWA) developed the 5Rs approach to water management - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore and Recover - for companies to consider and adopt as common practice. This paper explores the relationship between the principles of the circular economy and sustainable water management, identifying the opportunities that are offered through applying these principles to water systems in Romania. |