Reuse of Treated Wastewater Has Potential to Augment Water Supplies
January 10, 2012 -- With recent advances in technology and design, treating and reusing municipal wastewater for drinking water, irrigation, industry, and other applications could significantly increase the nation's total available water resources, particularly in coastal areas facing water shortages, says a new report from the National Research Council. Moreover, new analyses suggest that the possible health risks of exposure to chemical contaminants and disease-causing microbes from wastewater reuse do not exceed, and in some cases may be significantly lower than, the risks of existing water supplies.
