One of the key elements in the transformation towards a circular economy (CE) is providing more sustainable practices for resources and waste management. Improvement actions focused on transformation towards a CE should be targeted at all groups of materials and waste. As water is essential for human survival and well-being and plays a significant role in sustainable development (SD), the actions related to the reuse of water and the recovery of raw materials from wastewater and other water-based waste should be taken. The paper presents a proposition for a new CE model framework in the water and wastewater sector, which includes the six following actions: reduction—prevent wastewater generation in the first place by the reduction of water usage and pollution reduction at source; reclamation (removal)—an application of effective technologies for the removal of pollutants from water and wastewater; reuse—reuse of wastewater as an alternative source of water supply (non-potable usage), recycling—recovery of water from wastewater for potable usage; recovery—recovery of resources such as nutrients and energy from water-based waste, and rethink—rethinking how to use resources to create a sustainable economy, which is `free` of waste and emissions. The novelty of the proposed CE model framework is that it presents possible ways of implementing CE principles in the water and wastewater sector, with a strong emphasis not only technological but also organisational and societal changes. Application of the proposed model may help to further transform the European economy to the CE model. Moreover, the indicated model can be significant tool supporting an assessment of local or regional progress towards CE in the water and wastewater sector and further environmental management and planning.

向循环经济转型的关键要素之一是为资源和废物管理提供更可持续的实践。着眼于向消费电子产品转型的改进措施应针对所有种类的材料和废物。由于水对于人类的生存和福祉至关重要，并且在可持续发展（SD）中起着重要作用，因此应采取与水的再利用以及从废水和其他水基废物中回收原材料有关的行动。本文介绍了在水和污水处理行业新的CE模型框架，其中包括以下六个动作的命题：[R减排-首先通过减少用水量和从源头上减少污染来防止废水的产生；填海（去除）—一种有效技术的应用，用于去除水和废水中的污染物；再利用-将废水作为替代的水源（非饮用水使用）进行再利用，循环再利用-从废水中回收水用于饮用水；恢复-从水基废物中回收营养和能源等资源，然后重新考虑-重新思考如何利用资源来建立可持续的经济，而这种经济不会浪费和排放。所提出的CE模式框架的新颖之处在于，它提出了在水和废水部门中实施CE原则的可能方式，并且不仅着重于技术，还着重于组织和社会变革。建议模型的应用可能有助于进一步将欧洲经济转变为消费电子模型。此外，所指示的模型可能是重要的工具，可支持评估水和废水部门在实施CE方面的本地或区域进展以及进一步的环境管理和规划。