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Wastewater and Water Reuse
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Managing wastewater and stormwater systems in a safe, economical, and environmentally responsible way is a large and complex problem under any circumstances. Managing these systems in coastal urban areas [view report] brings special challenges. Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) have caused widespread eutrophication (i.e., overabundance of algae) of coastal waters, pathogenic viruses and bacteria affect shellfish beds and bathing beaches, and toxic chemicals such as chlorinated dioxins, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and solvents have left a legacy of contaminated soil, sediments, and water. Modeling of wastewater and stormwater runoff, such as has been done in the Florida Keys [view report], can be useful, but determining the impact of runoff or sewage on receiving water quality depends on meticulous calibration and detailed information on runoff.
Given the increasing numbers of people living in water-limited regions, in combination with the difficulty in finding acceptable sites for large surface reservoirs, wastewater and other kinds of water are increasingly being reused for various purposes. Such water is particularly well suited for nonpotable purposes [view report] such as landscape irrigation, as health risks are minimal and public acceptance is high. The use of adequately treated wastewater and sludge in food production [view report], when practiced in alignment with U.S. federal guidelines and regulations, generally presents negligible risk to the consumer, to crop production, and to the environment. And planned, indirect reuse of water for drinking water [view report] is a viable application of reclaimed water but only when there is a careful, project-specific assessment that includes contaminant monitoring, health and safety testing, and system reliability evaluation. |
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