The hygienic aspects of wastewater reuse

Historically drinking water contaminated with wastewater discharged from nearby communities has been a major public health problem whose solution was directed towards the treatment of drinking water rather than of the source of contamination. The increased need for deliberate wastewater reuse has stimulated greater interest in the ability of wastewater treatment processes to produce a product in which the risk of infection, upon reuse, is reduced to an acceptable level. A brief overview of the disease agents involved, human dose-response considerations, microbial standards, and treatment plant reliability is presented. Selected experiences with the question as to how our terrestrial experience can be applicable to advanced life support systems is addressed.