Author
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Bouwer, Herman |
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Submitted to: Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse Book Review
Publication Type: Literature Review Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Water reuse has been dubbed the "greatest challenge of the next century" as water supplies remain the same and water demands increase because of increasing populations. Use of municipal wastewater (sewage effluent) ranges from nonpotable purposes such as agricultural and urban irrigation, power plant cooling and other industrial purposes, and environmental uses (wetlands, wildlife refuges, riparian habitats), to potable uses. Reuse accomplishes two functions: (1) the effluent is used as a water resource for beneficial purposes, and (2) keeping the effluent out of streams and lakes reduces pollution of surface water. The main concerns in water reuse are proper treatment of the effluent so that it meets the quality requirements of the intended reuse, and public acceptance of potable reuse. The latter is achieved by avoiding direct connections between the sewage treatment plant and the water supply system (often called pipe-to-pipe or toilet-to-tap connection by the public). This is achieved by discharging the sewage treatment plant effluent first into a lake or stream so that it blends with surface water before it is diverted for municipal water supply, or by using it for artificial recharge of groundwater to get the benefits of soil-aquifer treatment and blending with native groundwater. When it is pumped up again, it is perceived as groundwater because it comes out of a well. The book discusses all of these aspects in great detail with many case histories in 31 chapters written by 73 contributors and covering 1528 pages, a monumental accomplishment! Water reuse essentially reduces the hydrologic cycle from an uncontrolled global scale to a controlled local scale. Technical Abstract: None required. |
