Wastewater reuse can be a key strategy in the conservation of water resources and a significant solution to today’s global water challenges. However, there are bottlenecks in the implementation of this concept, challenging it from different angles. The bottlenecks are in the form of technical, social, economic as well as physiological forms. The development of both innovative and low-cost technical solutions for wastewater reuse is necessary, especially within the context of implementing wastewater reuse for direct potable applications and challenges faced by low and middle-income countries. These economic and public perception challenges to wastewater reuse, need to be addressed to make the process more sustainable and prosperous. Wastewater reuse is not a new concept, treated wastewater has been used for non-potable applications such as agriculture, for several decades. However, wastewater reuse for potable application (both direct and indirect), face vast and difficult challenges.
Traditional treatment technologies such as the activated sludge process, may not be able to provide high-quality water from wastewater for potable applications. Detailed research on membrane-based treatment technologies, advanced oxidation processes, and disinfection treatment technologies may be able to provide a complete solution to wastewater reclamation and reuse. The sophisticated technologies aforementioned, are expensive to install and operate. These barriers make the implementation of wastewater reuse in developing countries and drought-prone rural communities difficult.
This collection focuses on studies that address the technical, economic, and social problems associated with the implementation of wastewater reclamation and reuse for direct and indirect potable applications in low/mid-income countries. Within this Research Topic, articles addressing the following aspects are desired:
• Public perception towards the acceptance of reclaimed wastewater for potable applications.
• Factors influencing public acceptance of reclaimed wastewater.
• Low-cost solutions of wastewater reuse with a focus in developing countries and small communities.
• The risk of pathogens as a limiting factor regarding the reuse of wastewater for potable use.
• Economic assessment of wastewater reuse solutions.
• Knowledge gained from previous wastewater reuse case studies for potable applications.
Wastewater reuse can be a key strategy in the conservation of water resources and a significant solution to today’s global water challenges. However, there are bottlenecks in the implementation of this concept, challenging it from different angles. The bottlenecks are in the form of technical, social, economic as well as physiological forms. The development of both innovative and low-cost technical solutions for wastewater reuse is necessary, especially within the context of implementing wastewater reuse for direct potable applications and challenges faced by low and middle-income countries. These economic and public perception challenges to wastewater reuse, need to be addressed to make the process more sustainable and prosperous. Wastewater reuse is not a new concept, treated wastewater has been used for non-potable applications such as agriculture, for several decades. However, wastewater reuse for potable application (both direct and indirect), face vast and difficult challenges.
Traditional treatment technologies such as the activated sludge process, may not be able to provide high-quality water from wastewater for potable applications. Detailed research on membrane-based treatment technologies, advanced oxidation processes, and disinfection treatment technologies may be able to provide a complete solution to wastewater reclamation and reuse. The sophisticated technologies aforementioned, are expensive to install and operate. These barriers make the implementation of wastewater reuse in developing countries and drought-prone rural communities difficult.
This collection focuses on studies that address the technical, economic, and social problems associated with the implementation of wastewater reclamation and reuse for direct and indirect potable applications in low/mid-income countries. Within this Research Topic, articles addressing the following aspects are desired:
• Public perception towards the acceptance of reclaimed wastewater for potable applications.
• Factors influencing public acceptance of reclaimed wastewater.
• Low-cost solutions of wastewater reuse with a focus in developing countries and small communities.
• The risk of pathogens as a limiting factor regarding the reuse of wastewater for potable use.
• Economic assessment of wastewater reuse solutions.
• Knowledge gained from previous wastewater reuse case studies for potable applications.
