The EU-funded BOOST-IN project has released its 2nd Policy Brief, titled “Overcoming social perception barriers in circular water solutions.“ As Europe races to implement the Water Resilience Strategy and the forthcoming Circular Economy Act, this new publication argues that technological innovation alone is insufficient: without social acceptance, the transition to a circular water economy will fail.

While technical solutions for water reuse and nutrient recovery are maturing, the “yuck factor” and lack of public trust remain significant bottlenecks. The new Policy Brief leverages insights from BOOST-IN’s six “Regions of Opportunity” across Europe to provide a roadmap for policymakers, aiming to shift the sector from a linear “use-and-discard” model to a circular one.

Key Recommendations for a Water-Smart Society
The Policy Brief outlines four critical pillars for overcoming social resistance and ensuring the success of circular water initiatives:

  1. Social Readiness as a Requirement: EU policy instruments and funding schemes must include “social readiness criteria” in their implementation and impact assessments, placing them on equal footing with technical readiness.

  2. Early Citizen Participation: Engagement must begin before technology deployment. Citizens should be involved in “shared problem framing” rather than simply being presented with a finalized solution.

  3. Regional Platforms for Trust: Regions require dedicated support to establish inclusive platforms for experimentation. These platforms allow communities to build trust aligned with specific local water challenges.

  4. Beyond Engineering: Policymakers must consider the behavioral, emotional, and cultural aspects of water reuse alongside technical feasibility.

This release comes at a critical moment for European water policy. The recommendations are designed to directly support the implementation of the Water Resilience Strategy, aimed at repairing the water cycle, and the revised water acquis (including the UWWTD and Water Reuse Regulation). Furthermore, the brief offers vital insights for the EU Circular Economy Act, expected in 2026.

BOOST-IN assesses its solutions using the OECD-DAC criteria (relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability), ensuring that these recommendations are not just theoretically sound but practically applicable for regional and EU-level decision-makers.

Download the full Policy Brief here.