Water Reuse – Treatment Technology Advances and Applications

Non-potable reuse applications of reclaimed water typically require conventional wastewater treatment technologies that are already widely practiced and readily available in many countries throughout the world. Higher level uses, such as irrigation of public-access lands or vegetables to be consumed without processing, require a higher level of treatment and treatment process reliability, than for uses such as irrigation of forage crops and pasture. As uses such as indirect potable reuse and even direct potable reuse are being considered more widely in efforts to address increasing demands on water supplies, additional treatment will be required. Thus, when considering treatment processes for a reuse system, the overriding concern continues to be whether the quality of the reclaimed water is appropriate for the intended use. This presentation provides an overview of the range of intended uses of reclaimed water and the appropriate treatment technologies that are available to meet the treatment requirements for the production of safe, reliable reclaimed water for these uses. Additionally, a brief discussion of the need to consider and evaluate additional and more advanced treatment technologies for facilities providing either indirect or potentially direct potable reuse is provided.