Increasing Water System Robustness in the Netherlands: Potential of Cross-Sectoral Water Reuse

Abstract Water reuse has the potential to substantially reduce demand on groundwater and surface water. This study presents a method evaluate of water schemes in regional context demonstrates how propagates through system potentially reduces pressure resources. The use Sankey diagram visualisation provides valuable tool explore application reuse, its demand, possible synergies trade-offs between sectors. approach is demonstrated for Dutch anthropogenic current situation future scenario with increased reduced availability due climate change. Four types are evaluated by theoretically upscaling local or based examples currently operation Netherlands Flanders: municipal industrial wastewater effluent irrigation, applications, replenishment. In all cases, significantly extraction volume, thus alleviate system. water-quantity analysis placed quality demands, health safety aspects, technological requirements, regulations, public perception, net impact environment. integrative essential successful implementation practice.