Responsible water reuse needs an interdisciplinary approach to balance risks and benefits

Responsible water reuse needs an interdisciplinary approach to balance risks and benefits

Dingemans, Milou M.L. (KWR Water Research Institute)
Smeets, Patrick W.M.H. (KWR Water Research Institute)
Medema, G.J. (TU Delft Sanitary Engineering; KWR Water Research Institute)
Frijns, Jos (KWR Water Research Institute)
Raat, Klaasjan J. (KWR Water Research Institute)
van Wezel, Annemarie P. (Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics - Amsterdam)
Bartholomeus, Ruud P. (KWR Water Research Institute; Wageningen University & Research)

2020

Freshwater is a precious resource, and shortages can lead to water stress, impacting agriculture, industry, and other sectors. Wastewater reuse is increasingly considered as an opportunity to meet the freshwater demand. Legislative frameworks are under development to support the responsible reuse of wastewater, i.e., to balance benefits and risks. In an evaluation of the proposed European regulation for water reuse, we concluded that the proposed regulation is not practically feasible, as the water provider alone is responsible for the risk assessment and management, even beyond their span of control. The required knowledge and resources are extensive. Therefore, without clear guidance for implementation, the regulation would hinder implementation of reuse programs. As a consequence, the current practice of uncontrolled, unintentional, and indirect reuse continues, including related risks and inefficiency. Therefore, we provide an outline of the interdisciplinary approach required to design and achieve safe, responsible water reuse. Responsible water reuse requires knowledge of water demand and availability, quality and health, technology, and governance for the various types of application. Through this paper we want to provide a starting point for an interdisciplinary agenda to compile and generate knowledge (databases), approaches, guidelines, case examples, codes of practice, and legislation to help bring responsible water reuse into practice.

Governance
Water availability
Water quality
Water reuse

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:bf0ca255-759c-4dd0-b0f4-29b1946037a3

https://doi.org/10.3390/W12051264

2073-4441

Water, 12 (5)

Institutional Repository

review

© 2020 Milou M.L. Dingemans, Patrick W.M.H. Smeets, G.J. Medema, Jos Frijns, Klaasjan J. Raat, Annemarie P. van Wezel, Ruud P. Bartholomeus