Degraded water reuse: an overview
G A O'Connor1, H A Elliott, R K Bastian
1Soil and Water Science Dep., Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. gao@ufl.edu
Journal of Environmental Quality
|September 26, 2008
Summary
Water scarcity is a growing global problem. Reusing degraded water sources, like wastewater and stormwater, offers a promising solution, but requires research, regulation, and public education for safe adoption.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Resource Management
- Soil Science
Background:
- Global freshwater shortages are intensifying due to population growth, food demands, economic development, and health concerns.
- Degraded water sources such as wastewater effluents, irrigation return flows, concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) effluents, stormwater, and graywater are underutilized resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of intentional reuse of degraded waters as a substitute for freshwater resources.
- To identify reuse options, limitations, and restrictions, with a focus on soil application scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Review and description of various degraded water types.
- Analysis of reuse options, limitations, and restrictions.
- Emphasis on degraded water applications to soil.
Main Results:
- The potential for degraded water reuse is substantial.
- Significant barriers hinder widespread adoption, including research gaps, lack of national regulations, and public acceptance issues.
Conclusions:
- Addressing research questions through advanced soil science and instrumentation is crucial.
- Developing unifying national regulations and implementing science-based educational programs are imperative for public and official acceptance of degraded water reuse.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.
01:30Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water
Biological wastewater treatment relies on the metabolic activity of microorganisms to remove pollutants from sewage. In modern treatment systems, this process is organized into sequential stages that progressively reduce solid material, dissolved organic matter, and microbial contamination. Each stage plays a distinct role in improving water quality and preparing the effluent for safe discharge or reuse.Primary and Secondary TreatmentPrimary treatment is a physical process that removes large...
01:19Quality of Water
In concrete preparation, the quality of water is paramount as it affects the strength and durability of the concrete. Potable water is usually preferred; however, it must not have excessive sodium or potassium to prevent compromising the concrete's integrity. Water quality is typically evaluated based on impurities such as dissolved solids, chlorides, and sulfates, and its pH value is ideally between 6 and 8. Even slightly acidic natural water may be acceptable unless it contains harmful...
01:26Regulation of Water Output
The human body predominantly expels water through the urinary system. On average, an individual generates around 1.5 liters of urine each day. This amount can fluctuate based on how well a person is hydrated, but a critical minimum quantity of urine must be produced to ensure the body's proper functioning. Daily, the kidneys remove 600 to 1200 milliosmoles of dissolved substances, effectively excreting excess minerals and water-soluble toxins such as creatinine, urea, and uric acid from the...
01:25Biofuels
The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...