Recycling wastewater to drive water security – Cosmos

Recycling wastewater to drive water security  Cosmos

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Oct 27, 2024 - 20:30 Updated: Oct 28, 2024 - 13:58
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Recycling wastewater to drive water security – Cosmos

Water Scarcity and the Importance of Wastewater Recycling

Published Date: October 27, 2024

Water scarcity is becoming an urgent global crisis, affecting billions of people.

According to the UN World Water Development Report 2024, approximately 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and half of the world’s population experiences severe water scarcity for at least some of the year.

Amid these alarming statistics, the recycling of wastewater is emerging as a vital solution.

Currently, more than 80 percent of the world’s total wastewater — and more than 95 percent of it in some developing countries — is released into the environment without being treated first. This has alarming consequences for public health and the environment.

In developing nations, only 8 percent of industrial wastewater undergoes any form of treatment.

If viewed as a resource rather than waste, recycled wastewater can ease pressure on freshwater supplies, support agricultural irrigation, and sustain industrial processes.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  4. SDG 13: Climate Action
  5. SDG 15: Life on Land

Challenges and Solutions

Technical Hurdles

  • Advanced treatment technologies
  • Infrastructure investments

Regulatory and Policy Frameworks

  • Establishing water quality standards
  • Incentivizing the adoption of alternative water sources

Economic Considerations

  • Cost of treatment and distribution

Public Perception and Resistance

  • Safety and quality concerns

Overcoming Barriers

Public Outreach Campaigns

  • Tailored to diverse cultural and religious backgrounds
  • Targeting all age groups

Community Involvement

  • Planning and implementation of wastewater reuse projects
  • Fostering a sense of ownership and support

Economic Instruments

  • Incentives or subsidies

Success Stories

Namibia, Singapore, and Israel have successfully implemented wastewater reuse programs.

Namibia

Established large-scale facilities to produce potable water from reclaimed wastewater.

Singapore

Implemented a large-scale wastewater reuse program called NEWater.

Israel

Achieved remarkable water security through unconventional methods, including wastewater reuse.

Conclusion

As the world confronts escalating water scarcity and environmental challenges, wastewater reuse presents a promising solution that can benefit society. It is a path towards securing a sustainable future in which every drop counts.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – The article discusses water scarcity, lack of access to safe drinking water, and the need for wastewater recycling as a solution.
  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The article mentions the technical hurdles and infrastructure investments required for wastewater treatment and reuse.
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The article emphasizes the importance of involving local communities in wastewater reuse projects and decentralizing wastewater treatment and management.
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The article highlights the need to view recycled wastewater as a resource and mentions economic considerations such as the cost of treatment and distribution.
  • SDG 13: Climate Action – The article suggests that wastewater reuse can help mitigate the environmental consequences of releasing untreated wastewater into the environment.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • SDG 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. – The article discusses the need for wastewater recycling to reduce the release of untreated wastewater into the environment.
  • SDG 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. – The article highlights the severe water scarcity experienced by half of the world’s population and the potential of recycled wastewater to ease pressure on freshwater supplies.
  • SDG 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. – The article mentions the need for advanced treatment technologies and significant infrastructure investments for wastewater treatment.
  • SDG 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. – The article emphasizes the importance of involving local communities in wastewater reuse projects and fostering a sense of ownership and support.
  • SDG 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. – The article discusses the need for regulatory and policy frameworks to ensure water quality standards and incentivize the adoption of alternative water sources.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  • The proportion of untreated wastewater released into the environment can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards SDG 6.3.
  • The water-use efficiency across sectors and the number of people suffering from water scarcity can be used as indicators to measure progress towards SDG 6.4.
  • The adoption of advanced treatment technologies and the level of infrastructure investments in wastewater treatment can be used as indicators to measure progress towards SDG 9.4.
  • The level of community involvement in wastewater reuse projects and the sense of ownership and support among local communities can be used as indicators to measure progress towards SDG 11.3.
  • The establishment of regulatory and policy frameworks for water quality standards and the adoption of alternative water sources can be used as indicators to measure progress towards SDG 12.4.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. Proportion of untreated wastewater released into the environment
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. Water-use efficiency across sectors
Number of people suffering from water scarcity
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. Adoption of advanced treatment technologies
Level of infrastructure investments in wastewater treatment
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. Level of community involvement in wastewater reuse projects
Sense of ownership and support among local communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Establishment of regulatory and policy frameworks for water quality standards
Adoption of alternative water sources

Source: cosmosmagazine.com