Recent Advances in Water Reuse Research in South Africa

Abstract

Due to limited water resources, water reuse is pursued as a major component of an overall strategy to optimise water use in South Africa. Progress in South African water reuse research, mainly since 1985, is reviewed. In the field of potable reuse research, the topics addressed are epidemiological studies, activated carbon, the microbiology of reclaimed water, bioassaying, and reverse osmosis. Information is provided on the scale of direct agricultural and industrial reuse of purified sewage effluents. Indirect reuse is steadily increasing and research which traditionally addressed direct potable reuse is becoming of equal relevance to indirect reuse. In addition, research becomes necessary on problems which relate specifically to indirect reuse, such as : treatment of algal waters, variation of raw water quality, upgrading of sewage effluent quality, organohalogens, and salination problems. Recent advances in research on internal water reuse by industry focused in particular on membranes and salt removal technology. Cases mentioned are textile dyehouse, scouring, bleaching and mercerising processes; bottle washing; wool scouring; water works wash water; and power station cooling.