Journal article
Taking the "waste" out of "wastewater" for human water security and ecosystem sustainability
SB Grant, JD Saphores, DL Feldman, AJ Hamilton, TD Fletcher, PLM Cook, M Stewardson, BF Sanders, LA Levin, RF Ambrose, A Deletic, R Brown, SC Jiang, D Rosso, WJ Cooper, I Marusic
Science | Published : 2012
Abstract
Humans create vast quantities of wastewater through inefficiencies and poor management of water systems. The wasting of water poses sustainability challenges, depletes energy reserves, and undermines human water security and ecosystem health. Here we review emerging approaches for reusing wastewater and minimizing its generation. These complementary options make the most of scarce freshwater resources, serve the varying water needs of both developed and developing countries, and confer a variety of environmental benefits. Their widespread adoption will require changing how freshwater is sourced, used, managed, and priced.
Grants
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors thank H.-F. Mok and C. Jayasuriya for preparation of Fig. 2; J. Famiglietti, K. Low, and three anonymous reviewers for providing comments on the paper; and the University of California, Irvine, HSSoE Research Ignition Fund for funding to S.B.G.