Potable Reuse Trends and Challenges: A Conversation With the Editorial Board of the AWWA Water Science Topical Collection on Potable Reuse

Abstract

Key Takeaways In 2020, AWWA Water Science published a topical collection on potable reuse that aimed to address questions raised by increasing demand for water reuse. Topics in the collection included source water management, pathogen detection and treatment, communications and outreach, and socioeconomics of potable reuse. In an interview, the collection's guest editors discuss the lessons they have learned and the future challenges for potable reuse regulation and research. Improving the feasibility and adoption of potable reuse will require additional research to ensure that it continues to be a safe and reliable water supply.

The Future of Municipal Wastewater Reuse Concentrate Management: Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunities

“…As an alternative to the membrane-based advanced treatment train that uses UF-RO-AOP, carbon-based advanced treatment consists of ozone (O 3 ), biological activated carbon (BAC), granular activated carbon (GAC), and ultraviolet radiation (UV), which follows the nonmembrane treatment scheme of the world’s first direct potable reuse plant in Windhoek, Namibia. , The primary benefit of carbon-based advanced treatment is thatwithout ROMWRC is not produced and does not need to be managed. Comparing these two treatment trains by the Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT) program, carbon-based advanced treatment was ultimately selected because of its lower levelized cost of water and improved geochemical compatibility of reclaimed water for groundwater augmentation (with higher TDS effluent reducing metal mobilization). − Although this is a promising advancement for reuse, more research is needed to compare the advantages and disadvantages between carbon- and membrane-based advanced treatment. For example, the implementation of carbon-based treatment may be less feasible in regions where the TDS of wastewater effluent is higher or supplemental water supplies to dilute the final reclaimed water are limited, which tends to be more common in water scarce regions .…”