REMARC UniPi

Circular water systems (CWS) are increasingly recognized as a key strategy to address water scarcity, climate change, and environmental impact. In recent years, a wide range of technological innovations has emerged to support the transition towards water circularity across agricultural, industrial, and urban contexts. These solutions form a coherent innovation ecosystem that enhances efficiency, resilience, and resource recovery. Nevertheless, technological solutions alone are not sufficient to enable a systemic transition. Their deployment and scaling depend critically on robust legal and regulatory frameworks, effective governance and economic approach, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sectoral coordination. This paper reviews recent literature on CWS by analyzing technological developments together with the legal, governance, economic, and social conditions that shape their implementation, with a particular focus on the European context. The analysis highlights how barriers and enabling factors interact across different implementation scales and institutional settings, and outlines policy-relevant insights to accelerate the transition towards a circular water economy.