Recent advances in technology and design mean treating municipal wastewater and reusing it for drinking water, irrigation, industry, and other applications could significantly increase available water resources, especially in coastal areas facing water shortages, says a new report from the National Research Council.
“Water Reuse: Potential for Expanding the Nation's Water Supply through Reuse of Municipal Wastewater” adds that using reclaimed water to augment drinking water supplies has significant potential to help meet future needs. New analyses suggest that the health risks of exposure to chemical contaminants and disease-causing microbes from wastewater reuse do not exceed, and in some cases may
