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- Social acceptance of water reuse from policy instruments - the case of LisbonPublication . Conceição, Marcella; Gomes, Carla; Schmidt, LuísaClimate change has been imperative in the changes that have taken place on the planet in recent decades, affecting various resources, including water. Droughts have become a reality in many places, particularly in southern Europe, where previously unaffected areas now face the threat of water scarcity. To deal with this situation, Europe, and more specifically Portugal, has adopted water reuse to promote adaptation and mitigate the effects of climate change. However, challenges related to the acceptance of water reuse by the community may hinder its evolution. This article investigates the social acceptance of water reuse in Lisbon, in the context of the national and EU regulatory frameworks. Policy instruments were analysed to identify the main factors influencing social acceptance in the official documents governing the practice. Based on the conceptual foundations of social acceptance, the analysis reveals three key domains that significantly shape reuse practices, thus necessitating differentiated strategies to overcome the challenges. These include the dynamics of risk perception and cost considerations, along with the imperative of robust stakeholder engagement, which is essential to promote equitable decision-making through collaborative work. In addition, transparency and public participation emerge as key elements indispensable for generating trust in water reuse. Through effective communication modalities and targeted awareness campaigns, we emphasise the fundamental role of ensuring public understanding of the benefits and risk mitigation strategies. While existing regulatory frameworks partially meet these demands, it is important that they are improved to fully respond to the challenges that hinder the widespread acceptance of water reuse schemes.