Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse System

Abstract

Water reclamation and reuse provides a unique and viable opportunity to augment traditional water supplies. As a multi-disciplined and an important element of water resources development and management, water reuse can help to close the loop between water supply and wastewater disposal. Effective water reuse requires integration of water and reclaimed water supply functions. The successful development of this reliable water resource depends upon close examination and synthesis of elements from infrastructure and facilities planning, wastewater treatment plant siting, treatment process reliability, economic and financial analyses, public acceptance, and water utility management. A key factor limiting the implementation of water reuse systems is often the cost of infrastructure needed for a conventional water reuse system, where the water reuse system consists generally of an upgraded secondary treatment process sited at an existing wastewater-treatment facility. It is often prohibitive logistically to return reclaimed water to urban areas where it could be used at maximum benefit to offset potable water supply consumption. The issues related to the return of reclaimed water to urban areas can be overcome, in part, using distributed water reuse systems such as satellite and decentralized configurations. In addition to a discussion on the alternative infrastructure approaches for water reuse, applications for reclaimed water, treatment technologies, and source control for upstream management of specific constituents are described briefly.