A novel risk score-based prioritization method for pollutants in reclaimed water

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Resource Management
• Risk Assessment

Background:

• Wastewater reclamation and reuse are crucial for water security.
• Residual pollutants in reclaimed water pose potential health and environmental risks.
• Effective management requires identifying and prioritizing these contaminants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel risk score-based method for prioritizing residual pollutants in reclaimed water.
• To establish a systematic approach for evaluating risks associated with reclaimed water reuse.
• To develop a priority pollutant list for specific reclaimed water applications.

Main Methods:

• Defined specific applications, scenarios, receptors, and exposure pathways for reclaimed water.
• Determined and assigned values to exposure and effect parameters for each pollutant.
• Calculated weighted exposure and effect scores, then a final risk score for pollutant ranking.

Main Results:

• A case study on groundwater recharge identified EE2 and E2 as priority pollutants.
• The proposed method demonstrated reliability, discrimination, and feasibility.
• The method effectively evaluates pollutant risks for specific reclaimed water applications.

Conclusions:

• The developed risk score-based method provides an objective and practical tool for pollutant prioritization.
• This application-oriented approach enhances the safety and management of recycled wastewater.
• Prioritizing pollutants is essential for the sustainable and safe reuse of reclaimed water.