Enhancing a Transition to a Circular Economy in the Water Sector: The EU Project WIDER UPTAKE

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) require an urgent transition from a linear to circular economy operation/design concept with consequent resource recovery and more sustainable waste management. Natural resources have be preserved, wastes become opportunity for recovering materials (water reuse, energy, sludge reuse). However, the toward is complex long process due existence of technical, economic, social regulatory barriers. These existing barriers are critical challenges modern WWTP concept. The must considered strategic target earliest process-design phase. In this context, European Union’s Horizon 2020 project “Achieving wider uptake water-smart solutions—WIDER UPTAKE” aims overcome (technological, regulatory, organizational, economic) model WWTPs. This study aimed at increasing awareness summarizes key contributions WIDER UPTAKE in terms water reuse nutrient recovery.