Recycled Water Research Articles

Effect of Super Retarder on Recycled Water and Concrete Properties of Waste Slurry in Mixing Plant

A large amount of waste slurry water will be generated in the production process of concrete mixing plant, due to the complex composition of waste slurry water, if it is not handled in time when stored, serious coagulation will occur, which will accelerate the loss of equipment and reduce the utilization rate. In this paper, a super retarder suitable for waste slurry recycled water from concrete mixing plant was prepared using composite technology. The waste slurry recycled water mixed with super retarding agent was characterized by using microscopic testing means XRD, TG and DTG. The waste slurry recycled water mixed with super retarding agent was used to replace tap water in the production of concrete, and its effect on the workability and mechanical properties of concrete was investigated. It was found that the compounding of Butane 2-phospho-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTCA) with Reclaimed water treatment agent (ACS) resulted in a setting time of 64 h for 10% concentration of recycled water, with optimal retarding effect. When PBTCA:ACS was 1:20, mixed at 1.5% of the mass of recycled water, the 1 h slump of concrete had no loss, the loss of extension was 15 mm, the 7 days compressive strength was increased by 3.5 MPa, and the 28 days compressive strength was increased by 3.0 MPa. The microscopic results showed that the use of ACS and PBTCA does not affect the type of cement hydration products, but only affects the the rate of hydration product generation.

Pathogen validation of small and large-scale recycled water plants utilizing various clarification and media filtration technologies

Pathogen validation of small and large-scale recycled water plants utilizing various clarification and media filtration technologies

Sustainable Resource Management in an Agro-Industrial Cluster: A Case Study

Introduction: The challenge of water supply and sustainable energy is crucial for addressing long-term clean water and energy challenges. Moreover, there has been an increase in water and air pollution resulting from the community's activities. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate conservation strategies must be enacted to reduce dependency on clean water and energy supplies. Theoretical Framework: In this topic, the main concepts and theories that underpin the research are presented. Cost reductions, environmental sustainability, and an improved public image for understanding are context of the investigation. Method: The methodology adopted for this research comprises the case study uses a quantitative descriptive method to identify the estimated potential amount of biogas and water quality produced from tapioca and sago industrial wastewater. Data collection was carried out through the specific methods used, such as interviews, questionnaires, observations,and laboratory testing. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed energy generation from starch wastewater and recycled water from tapioca wastewater. The wastewater was treated in a biogas reactor as primary treatment to reduce the environmental load and produce biogas simultaneously. The wastewater recycling scheme for the tapioca industry, the quality and quantity of treated water recycled. Research Implications: Biogas production from wastewater reduces energy costs in starch industries. Recycling wastewater saves fresh water daily for starch production. Excess methane can be used for electricity generation or distributed to the community. Implementing anaerobic reactors minimizes environmental pollution. The system boosts sustainability, lowering reliance on external water and energy sources. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by innovative integration of water recycling and biogas generation in starch industries. First application of CoLAR technology for energy self-sufficiency in tapioca and sago sectors. Demonstrates significant cost savings by reusing treated wastewater in production. Offers a scalable model for sustainable water and energy use in agro-industrial clusters. Contributes to reducing environmental impact through waste-to-energy conversion.

Combined Effects of Magnetized Irrigation and Water Source on Italian Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. ramosa Hort.) Growth and Gene Expression

Agricultural water scarcity has become a global issue. Optimizing irrigation water quality and effectively utilizing non-conventional water resources are essential strategies to alleviate pressure on agricultural water use and achieve sustainable development. This study employed Italian lettuce as the test crop to explore the effects of magnetization treatment (M) at a magnetic field strength of 0.2 T and various irrigation water sources (T) on its growth. The following six treatments were established: fresh water irrigation (M0T1), recycled water irrigation (M0T2), saline water irrigation (M0T3), magnetized fresh water irrigation (M1T1), magnetized recycled water irrigation (M1T2), and magnetized saline water irrigation (M1T3). The results showed that the magnetization treatment increased the electrical conductivity (EC), power of hydrogen (pH), and dissolved oxygen (DO) of the three water sources compared to the non-magnetized treatment. Furthermore, magnetized irrigation with fresh water, recycled water, and saline water increased the contents of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in lettuce. It also led to increases in the contents of soluble proteins (by 9.27% to 22.25%), soluble sugars (by 13.45% to 20.50%), and vitamin C (VitC) (by 4.18% to 19.33%) in lettuce. Additionally, it enhanced the above-ground fresh weight of lettuce (by 9.36% to 8.81%) and water productivity (WPc) (by 5.85% to 10.40%), while reducing water consumption. Among these treatments, magnetized fresh water irrigation was the most effective in improving quality, fresh weight, and WPc, followed by magnetized recycled water. Gene expression analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily enriched in metabolic pathways such as the MAPK signaling pathway—plant, phytohormone signaling, and cysteine and methionine metabolism. In summary, magnetized irrigation significantly enhanced DO levels in irrigation water, along with the fresh weight, quality, and WPc of lettuce, demonstrating its effectiveness as an efficient method for agricultural irrigation.

Simulating Agricultural Water Recycling Using the APEX Model

Irrigation plays a vital role in many agricultural crop production regions. Drainage water recycling (DWR) is a popular irrigation water management system that collects excess water drained from cropland fields and stores it in on-site reservoirs for reuse. The efficacy of these systems varies by location, climate, irrigation frequency, and crop demands. Simulating this system would be beneficial for assessing the impact of water and land management practices on agriculture and natural resources. This study presents the development of computational algorithms for DWR simulation with the Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX) model, along with the results for 39 testing sites where both reservoir and drainage systems are adopted. Simulating a DWR system with the revised reservoir module, the APEX model simulates irrigation water reuse ranging between 29% and 93%; sediment reduction of around 66%; nitrogen loss reduction of 23% and 73% for the mineral and organic forms, respectively; and phosphorus loss reduction of 22% and 79% for the soluble and sediment-transported forms, respectively. In conclusion, the results provided by the APEX model for sediment loss reduction align with field data, but discrepancies for nitrogen and phosphorus losses emerged from this test.

Modulating structure of Ce-UiO-66 by introducing fluorinated terephthalic acid for enhanced removal efficiency of antibiotics: Insights into degradation kinetics and pathways

In this work, the 2-fluoroterephthalic acid with asymmetric structure and high electronegative F species was introduced in the assembly of Ce-UiO-66 catalysts to increase the defect density and enlarge pore structure for enhancement in removal efficiency of sulfamethoxazole. Owing to the strong coordination ability from high electronegative F species of 2-fluoroterephthalic acid with Ce-oxo nodes, the designed CUF exhibited improved interfacial properties (accelerated electron transfer rate, available active sites and enhanced interaction with PMS), which was favorable for the exploration and accessibility of active sites with sulfamethoxazole and PMS to decrease the adsorption barrier and accelerate PMS activation. As a result, the CUF catalysts exhibited higher adsorption capacity (173.4 mg/g) than that of CUH (117.8 mg/g), the enhanced degradation efficiency of sulfamethoxazole with a rate constant higher than 2.3 times CUH, good elimination (>95 %) of methylene blue, tetracycline and ibuprofen. In addition, the CUF/PMS system possessed satisfactory stability in wide solution pH, recycling and real water and good potential application in continuous wastewater treatment based on the designed dynamic catalytic reactor. This work provided deep insight into the design of catalysts with high adsorption performance and degradation efficiency based on the structure–activity relationship.

The economic and environmental impact of fire preventive strategies in the Mediterranean region

Fire behaviour in the Mediterranean region has been altered by climate change. In the last decade, not only has the occurrence of fires increased but also their virulence. This is primarily due to higher temperatures and the decrease in the rainfall, which have made forest ecosystems less able to withstand fires. It has also been observed that most wildfires are related directly or indirectly with human actions, and they usually occur in wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas. The current research focuses on the economic quantification of the benefits that fire preventive strategies could generate, demonstrating that it is worth it to invest in this kind of measures for both the environment and the society. This study shows the results of a pioneering project, called GUARDIAN, which is applied in a WUI area located at the east of Spain, with the aim of preventing and combating wildfires that could put at risk the life of 15,000 inhabitants while preserving the Natural Park of Túria and La Vallesa (Valencia-Spain). GUARDIAN is a multifaceted project that integrates recycled water, advanced technology, and ecological enhancements to create a more fire-resilient environment while educating and preparing the local community for fire-related challenges. The results of the current research intend to give a value to those benefits of the project that usually have not a market value and are difficult to measure, and due to that fact, they are not usually considered in the cost-benefit analysis. The methodology applied allows to compare in economic terms the environmental benefits of fire preventive measures implemented in the GUARDIAN project with the costs incurred by the measures developed. The environmental area protected by the project results in a value that ranges between €338,035,481 to €485,384,281. Accordingly, the methodology and results of this study are of great interest to public administrations, encouraging the implementation of fire preventive strategies.

Behaviour of M. aeruginosa–Microplastic composite pollutants in coagulation and sludge storage

Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) blooms and microplastics pollution have been major global water pollution concern in lakes and reservoirs. In this study, the behaviour of M. aeruginosa–microplastic composite pollutants in inorganic coagulant (PACl) and organic coagulant (HTCC) treatment was investigated. Results showed that, in coagulation stage, the dissolved extracellular polymers secreted by M. aeruginosa could promote the adhesion of microplastics to algae, so as to combine them into the algal flocs, thus improving the sedimentation and removal efficiency of microplastics. On the other hand, whilst microplastics increased the size of algal flocs in PACl coagulation and improved algal removal efficiency, they had the opposite effect on HTCC coagulation. And the removal of algal metabolites including microcystins were improved by the presence of microplastics.In sludge storage stage, the oxidative and mechanical damage effects of microplastics promoted the rupture of M. aeruginosa cells in PACl sludge but not in HTCC sludge, which mean more potential risks in recycling of PACl sludge water. Besides, microplastics promoted the proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as Poterioochromonas and Coccomyxa, which contributed to the control of sludge pollution.

Effect of Soil Amendments on the Aggregate Stability, Biological Activity, and Yield of Canola (Brassica napus L.) in Degraded Soils

ABSTRACT Recycling organic waste and water treatment residues in nanoform is a promising technology in various farming systems, and its effect on aggregate stability, biological activity, and canola production in degraded soils is largely unknown. Hence, we evaluated the effect of nano-biochar (nB) and nano-water treatment residues (nWTR) at levels 50, 100, and 250 mg kg−1 as compared to soil without amendments on the aggregate stability, biological activity, and canola yield in degraded soil. The results showed that the structure coefficient (SC) values are higher when nB and nWTR are added at 100 mg kg−1 soil than at levels 50 and 250 mg kg−1. In our study, the high aggregate stability in the soil treated with nB and nWTR is likely due to their higher content of nutrients, organic carbon, clay, and CEC. The seed weight of the canola plant increased with increasing nB by more than 64%, while it decreased with increasing nWTR. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and the activity of dehydrogenase (DHA) and catalase (CLA) increased significantly in the treated pots with the addition of nB and nWTR at various rates. The results of the pot experiment recommended that the applications of nWTR and nB could be used as a promising strategy to improve soil quality and crop yield while also increasing the recycled efficiency of WTR and rice straw.

Physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of natural, industrial recycled water and its treatment

Background: Under conditions of anthropogenic impact, the chemical composition of water in surface rivers and groundwater bodies is subjected to pollution, which leads not only to a decrease in water quality, but also to an increase in the number of pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria. Aim: The purpose of this work is to study the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of natural and industrial recycled water before and after treatment with coagulants based on activated aluminum alloys. Materials and methods: As natural waters were analyzed: natural waters from water intake “Almaty SU”, “Medeu” tract, Zhaiyk river, from the well of experimental metallurgical production of IMOB. As recycled water was analyzed water taken from the water treatment unit of deep oil refining production. Turbidity was measured using HACH 2100Q turbidimeter and 2100Qis turbidimeter (USA). Cell morphology of microorganism cultures was studied by light microscopy using a MicroOptix MX-1150 (T) stereoscopic-sotrinocular microscope. Results: An effective and technologically simple method of obtaining aluminum polyoxychloride with the content of the main substance from 33 to 41.0% by Al2O3 and basicity from 55.1 to 66.5% has been developed. The method consists in dissolution of aluminum alloy activated by metal-activators (indium, gallium, tin) in the amount of 0.5–1.0 wt.% of each in 3% HCl. Physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of natural and industrial recycled water have been studied. The efficiency of the obtained aluminum polyoxychloride for treatment and conditioning of drinking water and industrial recycled water was evaluated. Conclusion: Unique alloys with high energy characteristics based on aluminum containing indium, gallium, tin from 0.5–1.0 wt.% have been created. The alloy has high activity in various oxidizing media (water, hydrochloric acid). A technologically simple method of obtaining aluminum polyoxychloride has been developed. Chemical and microbiological composition of natural and industrial recycled water has been studied. Coagulants based on activated aluminum alloys are effective in the processes of conditioning and purification of natural and recycled water from toxic compounds, have bactericidal activity, the level of gram-negative bacteria is reduced to 73%, gram-positive bacteria to 84% and to 96% of other groups of microorganisms. Fungi and yeasts (Mucor, Fusarium) were not detected after water treatment. Efficiency of water turbidity reduction reaches 90–99%, permanganate oxidizability up to 93%.

Localized heating coupling with radical oxidation eliminating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in interfacial photothermal Fenton-like disinfection process

Conventional oxidative disinfection processes are inefficient in eliminating intracellular antibiotic resistance genes (iARGs) due to the barrier of the cell membrane and the competitive reaction of cellular constituents within antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), resulting in the widespread prevalence of ARGs in recycled water. This study presented the first application of localized heating coupling with advanced oxidation to destroy the resistant Escherichia coli cells and improved subsequent iARGs (blaTEM-1) degradation in a novel photothermal Fenton-like disinfection process. The Fe-Mn@CNT microfiltration membrane, comprising carbon nanotubes wrapped with Fe and Mn nanoparticles (Fe-Mn@CNT), was employed as a nanomaterial for photothermal conversion and H2O2 activation. The highly efficient absorption of full-spectrum photons by CNTs enabled the Fe-Mn@CNT membrane to concentrate light to generate localized intense heat, resulting in the destruction of ARB nearby, and the subsequent release of iARGs. Interfacial heat favored Fe-Mn-induced H2O2 activation, leading to the production of more ·OH, which in turn promoted the oxidation for ARG degradation and ARB cell damage. The results of the acetylcysteine quenching experiments indicated that interfacial heating and radical oxidation-induced accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species contributed to the elimination of about 1-log iARGs through direct attack. The integrity of the cell membrane, the morphology of ARB and the variation of i/e ARG copy numbers were observed to reveal that the introduction of interfacial heating aggravated the cell lysis and accelerated the iARGs release, resulting in the inactivation of 7.27-log ARB and the elimination of 4.64-log iARGs and 2.23-log eARGs. Localized heating coupling with ·OH oxidation achieved a 143 % increase in iARGs removal compared to the conventional Fenton-like oxidation. The interfacial photothermal Fenton-like disinfection process exhibited remarkable material stability, robust disinfection performance, and effective suppression of horizontal gene transfer, underscoring its immense potential to mitigate the risk of ARG dissemination in reclaimed water systems.

Caffeine removal and compositions losses from whole Robusta coffee beans during conventional and ultrasound-assisted aqueous decaffeination

Whole Robusta coffee beans were decaffeinated using conventional aqueous extraction (CAE) and ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction (UAAE). Changing of extraction water at time intervals to enhance caffeine removal efficiency is proposed as novel decaffeination technique. Kinetic modelling of caffeine content evolutions during CAE and UAAE, with and without water changing, was performed to confirm benefit of newly proposed technique. Losses of soluble carbohydrates, phenolics, sugars, flavonoids and organic acids from decaffeinated beans were investigated. Recycling of extraction water as way to recover lost compositions was tested. Water changing enhanced caffeine removal efficiency, especially in case of UAAE; caffeine could be removed by 98%. Kinetic model well described caffeine content evolutions (R2 = 0.99). This strategy nevertheless led to significant losses (p < 0.05) of bean compositions when compared to CAE. UAAE with water recycling could not help recover bean compositions, but drying and soaking beans in spent extraction water from second round of decaffeination significantly increased (p < 0.05) total soluble carbohydrates and phenolics contents.

Low-energy advanced wastewater treatment using submerged nanofiltration

The use of submerged nanofiltration (NF) membranes in wastewater treatment is an emerging process that produces high-quality recycled water with low energy consumption. This study aimed to identify the potential of coupling anaerobic digestion with this low-energy advanced wastewater treatment using submerged NF membranes. The direct NF of primary wastewater effluent using four types of commercial NF membranes resulted in progressive membrane fouling over 4 d. However, almost all the foulants contributing to hydraulic loss were removed by one-swipe sponge cleaning. This indicated that the major foulants were generally deposited on the membrane surface during direct NF. The membrane fouling speed varied during the long-term test depending on the feed wastewater quality. Although the transmembrane pressure increased by up to 50 kPa in every filtration cycle (4–7 d), sponge cleaning removed all the membrane foulants, resulting in >30 d of operation without chemical cleaning. The NF concentrates (four times concentrated wastewater) were then used for biogas production in an anaerobic digester. The volume of biogas formed from the NF concentrates sufficiently compensated for the energy consumption of direct NF. This study realized a low-energy advanced wastewater treatment utilizing NF concentrates that can also be used for biogas formation.

Using Treated Wastewater for Non-Potable Household Uses in Peri-Urban India: Is It Affordable for the Users?

Reuse of wastewater is a promising response to water scarcity. For peri-urban areas served by decentralized wastewater treatment plants, the delivery of treated wastewater to the households may be a viable option to promote reuse on a larger scale. Based on a case study in Eastern India, this paper explores if households would accept recycled water for non-potable purposes and if they would pay for it. While the respondents to household surveys had very positive views about recycling, they were not willing to pay much, even if they were from a middle-income class and could afford more. A closer analysis of the attitudes towards recycling indicated knowledge gaps about the risks and advantages of using recycled water.

A Binned Multilevel Regression Fitting Method for Monitoring Geladandong Glacier Elevation Changes from ICESat-2 Data

ABSTRACT Studying glacier changes is essential for understanding global glacier mass balance, patterns in climate change, and the potential consequences they may have. The glaciers of Geladandong Mountain serve as a crucial water source for the Yangtze River and its downstream regions. Any changes in the glacier at the river source will directly impact the ecological environment and water recycling process downstream. This study presents an approach for monitoring Geladandong Mountain glacier elevation changes using ICESat-2 data combined with a Binned Multilevel Regression Fitting Method (BMRFM). We analysed multi-year ICESat-2 data, considering various topographic features, to understand glaciers’ annual and seasonal elevation changes. Our research reveals significant spatial heterogeneity in glacier elevation changes, influenced by altitude, slope, and aspect factors. It demonstrates the effectiveness of ICESat-2 in glacier monitoring, offering insights into the impacts of climate change on glacier dynamics. Moreover, the results indicate a predominant trend of ongoing melting at lower altitudes, with a small amount of accretion at higher elevations. Over the last two decades, the overall elevation change rate is −0.23 ± 0.12 metres per year. Seasonal analysis shows substantial glacier thickening from April to August, primarily due to increased precipitation offsetting elevated temperatures. This study offers a robust method for monitoring glaciers using satellite data, thereby advancing the precision and reliability of glacier research.

Effect of the temperature control device on the emission character of condensable particulate matter from industrial heating plant

Condensable particulate matter (CPM) is one of the major emissions of primary particles in coal combustion. The removal efficiency of CPM using the temperature control device (TCD) based on the concept of a heat exchanger application with lower capital cost was investigated in an industrial heating plant. TCD operates without water and flue gas interactions and ensures efficient control of CPM emissions, and it also minimizes the potential ion accumulation in recycled WESP water, which could otherwise hinder the removal of CPM. The total mass and chemical speciation were determined by EPA method 202. The total mass of CPM was removed by 25.7–60.6% after the TCD. The CPM captured by CPM filters (CPMspa) was down to around 15–21% and the FPM also was reduced by around 11–26%. The occurrence of vapor gradient forces and thermophoresis forces could enhance the contact between CPM and water film, which was built up on the surface of the cooling tubes during the process of TCD. Then, part of the CPM was removed with a water film. The low capital and operating cost of TCD can be installed in the industrial heating plant or be set up after the WESP in the coal-fired power plant to enhance the CPM removal efficiency.

Optimal cost predictive BMS considering greywater recycling, responsive HVAC, and energy storage

A crucial aspect of a sustainable city is ensuring that energy and water supplies can adequately meet urban demand. With the scarcity of natural resources and growing electricity and water demand, it becomes increasingly important for consumers to manage their resource usage more efficiently. This paper proposes a novel perspective of demand-side management coordination strategy for a building's water-energy nexus to enhance the resilience and efficiency of the overall electricity-water-heating system. The model is formulated to optimally coordinates the onsite greywater recycling system, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) loads, and distributed energy generation systems with a bidirectional grid connection in a residential building. All subsystems are controlled by a model predictive controller (MPC) receiving real-time time of use (ToU) pricing from electricity and water utilities. The presented mixed integer linear programming model is verified to meet the customers' demands while reducing the operational costs. Results are compared with benchmark systems lacking the water recycling or energy storage system showing 8.3 % operational cost reduction while reducing potable water consumption by 21.5 %. The effect of increased MPC control horizon is also studied showing reduction in cost with increased horizon. Detailed analysis of the proposed framework computational burden and effect of prediction errors is performed to prove the MPC adaptability and robustness. Testing under increased room size and different user preferences further validate the efficacy of the proposed scheme in reducing the operational costs.

Kinetics of the decomposition of reactive black 5 on carbon nanostructured adsorbents

Textile industry effluents, containing vast quantities of toxic organic pollutants and synthetic dyes like Reactive Black 5 (RB5), pose a significant environmental threat. RB5 contamination can harm ecosystems and human health, necessitating effective treatment for water recycling and compliance with quality standards. Traditional methods like filtration often fall short in removing dye chemicals. This study examines the efficiency of nanocarbon-based adsorbents in removing RB5 from textile industry effluents. RB5 solutions at concentrations of 10 µM, 30 µM, 60 µM and 100 µM were investigated and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Activated carbon (AC) demonstrated the highest degree of RB5 decomposition, outperforming graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and graphene oxide (GO) and offering a promising solution for mitigating textile wastewater pollution. Kinetic studies revealed that RB5 adsorption follows a pseudo-second-order model for all adsorbents. The rate constants were determined using PSO kinetics and they were comparable with the rate constants of prior studies, indicating the applicability of the model to the study of the kinetics of similar dye adsorption and decomposition processes.

Novel hybrid treatment for canal water recycling by integrating coagulation, catalytic ozonation, and filtration for agricultural sustainability

This study employed a novel approach, utilizing recycled alumina flocs after coagulation/flocculation (C/F) as a catalyst in catalytic ozonation (CO), along with the auxiliary catalyst sodium zeolite (Na-Z), where alumina produces hydroxyl radicals, and zeolite enhances molecular ozone reactions. This synergistic strategy focuses on treating contaminated canal water, recognizing that the presence of various pollutants can reduce the efficacy of a singular catalyst type. In the current investigation, alum, Na-Z, and rice husk (RH) were applied as a coagulant, catalyst, and filter media in C/F, CO, and filtration processes respectively. Four treatment technologies (C/F, O3, O3/Na-Z, and RHF) were studied independently and in four different combinations (O3–C/F, C/F–O3, C/F–O3/Na-Z, and C/F–O3/Na-Z–RHF) for the first time and their efficacious performance was evaluated. It was revealed that the combination-IV (C/F–O3/Na-Z–RHF) was a more efficient and economical treatment than others. This novel integrated treatment C/F–O3/Na-Z–RHF has remarkable removal efficiency of 99 %, 99 %, 85 %, 93 %, 100 %, 89 %, and 93 % for TSS, turbidity, COD, BOD5, fecal coliforms, cadmium, and copper respectively, under optimized working conditions. Also, treated canal water complied with the studied irrigation water quality guidelines. Notably, this efficient treatment combination halved the treatment time compared to others, potentially reducing the electrical energy demand of 11.45 kWh.m−3 and the overall operational treatment cost of 1.62 USD.m−3. Hence, the application of this efficient hybrid treatment system contributed to recycling canal water for agricultural use, livestock, and pasture watering, playing a crucial role in mitigating the water crisis.

Enhancing water recycling adoption in South African residential properties: a multi-dimensional analysis for sustainable water management

This paper investigates the challenges and adoption rates of water recycling systems as a sustainable water management strategy within residential properties in South Africa. Employing a quantitative approach, the research incorporates a comprehensive literature review and household surveys to discern the micro-social, technical, and socio-economic motivations and challenges influencing adoption rates and homeowners' willingness to embrace water recycling systems. Through structural equation modeling (SEM), a causal model is developed, illuminating the intricate nexus between influential constructs, their sub-constructs, and the degree of water recycling system adoption in South African residential contexts. The SEM results reveal significant relationships between property characteristics, motivations, and challenges, and their combined impact on adoption rates. The study identifies a lack of space, unclear savings on water payments, and insufficient information/awareness as primary micro-level obstacles to implementing water recycling systems in residential properties. Furthermore, it demonstrates that enhancing the efficiency of water recycling systems could substantially mitigate the negative impacts of these challenges. The study underscores the pivotal role of public awareness campaigns and homeowner education in augmenting the utilization of recycled water within residential settings. Recommendations emphasize the necessity of equipping homeowners with fundamental environmental and technical knowledge pertaining to water recycling and advocate for government incentives to encourage the adoption of water recycling systems in residential properties. These findings offer valuable insights for crafting data-driven decision-making frameworks aimed at bolstering the capacity for analyzing and implementing novel water reuse strategies, tailored to the specific capabilities and resources of urban authorities and communities.