Environmental Impacts and Sustainability of Degraded Water Reuse

Abstract

Greater urban demand for finite water resources to meet domestic, agricultural, industrial, and recreational needs; increased frequency of drought resulting from erratic weather; and continued degradation of available water resources from point and nonpoint sources of pollution have focused attention on the reuse of degraded waters as a potential water source. However, short‐ and long‐term detrimental environmental impacts and sustainability of degraded water reuse are not well known or understood. These concerns led to the organization of the 2007 ASA‐CSSA‐SSSA Symposium entitled Environmental Impacts and Sustainability of Degraded Water Reuse Out of this symposium came a special collection of 4 review papers and 12 technical research papers focusing on various issues associated with the reuse of agricultural drainage water, well water generated in the production of natural gas from coalbeds, municipal wastewater and biosolids, wastewater from confined animal operations, urban runoff, and food‐processing wastewater. Overviews of the papers, gaps in knowledge, and future research directions are presented. The future prognosis of degraded water reuse is promising, provided close attention is paid to managing constituents that pose short‐ and long‐term threats to the environment and the health of humankind.

Changes in chemical attributes of a Fluvent cultivated with castor bean and irrigated with wastewater

“…Water scarcity is a worldwide concern, which is worsened by the increasing demand for various uses (Corwin & Bradford, 2008). In spite of 18% of total world freshwater being located in Brazil, there are many national problems of water supply, mainly due to the heterogeneous geographical water distribution and inadequate management, that causes pollution, wastage, and overuse.…”

“…The organic matter in wastewater can improve soil aeration, infiltration rate, water storage, cation exchange capacity (CEC), as well as decrease the potential for soil erosion and increase the population of organisms which promotes plant growth (Tozé, 2006;Corwin & Bradford, 2008;Arienzo et al, 2009). Moreover, this practice is an effective method to control pollution, avoiding the discharge of effluents into water bodies (Tozé, 2006).…”

Biofuels, Land, and Water: A Systems Approach to Sustainability

“…However, a significant fraction of wastewater generated from both of these resources is not used for irrigation and land application and is a likely source of nonpoint source pollution (31). This fraction could potentially be used for irrigation and fertilization of biomass feedstock.…”

“…Water is defined as degraded once it has been used, whether for domestic, agricultural, industrial, or recreational purposes (31). Degraded water resources may be contaminated by a wide range of chemicals from agricultural nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate to pesticides, heavy metals, salts, pathogens, antibiotics, hormones, and organic chemicals (32).…”

Utilização de efluente tratado em complexo industrial automotivo

“…Questões como a pequena disponibilidade de água doce e o elevado crescimento populacional, aliadas ao aumento do consumo de água, à constante redução da qualidade dela e ao custo elevado de seu tratamento, estimulam a busca por alternativas que conduzam a um aumento na eficiência da utilização da água, entre as quais está incluído o reúso (CORWIN & BRADFORD, 2008). A água de reúso é uma alternativa cada vez mais utilizada, principalmente nos grandes centros urbanos, nas atividades que não necessitam de água de boa qualidade, como: irrigação de jardins, lavagens de calçamentos,…”