Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering,University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Rev Environ Health. 2012;27(4):197-206. doi: 10.1515/reveh-2012-0027.
Water shortage arising from rapid population growth and relocation has produced an unprecedented degree of stress on regional water resources. Engineered solutions to relieve water stress are frequently based on the use of water of impaired initial quality. Chief among these impaired waters is reclaimed wastewater. For the most part, however, the breadth of both acceptable uses and use-dependent degree of treatment for reclaimed wastewater remain to be established.The chief advantages of direct potable reuse (DPR) relative to other forms of wastewater reclamation and reuse are that(i) all wastewater reclaimed for DPR can be readily used in water-stressed areas and (ii) delivery to points of use does not require a separate distribution system. The drawbacks are related to the need for highly competent, continuous on-line verification of water quality and the cost of treating all reclaimed wastewater to meet potable use requirements when only a small fraction will be used for potable purposes.We have attempted to explore those differences, providing quantitative comparisons where possible, to support selection among water reuse options in water-stressed areas.
由于人口快速增长和迁移导致的水资源短缺，给区域水资源带来了前所未有的压力。缓解水资源压力的工程解决方案通常基于使用初始质量受损的水。在这些受损水中，主要是再生废水。然而，在大多数情况下，再生废水的可接受用途和处理程度仍有待确定。与其他形式的废水再利用相比，直接饮用水再利用（DPR）的主要优势在于：(i) 可直接用于 DPR 的所有再生废水都可以在水资源紧张地区得到充分利用；(ii) 无需单独的分配系统即可将水输送到使用点。缺点与需要高度胜任的、持续的在线水质验证以及处理所有再生废水以满足饮用水要求的成本有关，而只有一小部分将用于饮用水目的。我们试图探索这些差异，并尽可能提供定量比较，以支持在水资源紧张地区选择水再利用方案。
