By: Astrid Salcedo
Image depicting the feasibility and impacts of reusing treated wastewater in Portugal. Image taken from Areosa et al. 2024
The increasing global effects of climate change and population growth are seen through heightened drought levels and water scarcity further emphasizing the need to establish systems to reuse wastewater. The impact of water reuse in Portugal, as investigated by Areosa and colleagues, is important as preventing large-scale resource depletion and conserving clean water sources are shared concerns among the worldwide population. Areosa and colleagues found that agriculture and recreational areas with high levels of tourism were prominent contributors to a 74% increase in irrigation demand, further straining public health and limiting available resources. Areosa and colleagues assessed that implementing reusable water would provide better water efficiency and resilience; however, Portugal only has a reuse rate of 1.2%. To emphasize the importance of water sustainability, Areosa and colleagues added that reclaimed water was more efficient in irrigating agricultural settings and was also more cost-effective than desalination processes. Establishing wastewater treatment plants advances environmental sustainability by being proactive in using current available resources; therefore, conserving potable water by reusing wastewater. Environmental sustainability is supported by protecting natural capital through nutrient cycling, removing bacteria from water, and minimizing further pollution. Tradeoffs to developing wastewater systems include invading coastal areas for pump and pipeline installation with proximity to a water source, and time constraints in development. Alternative water sources must be established to support more efficient resource use and to protect our exhaustible natural resources before they post an even greater threat to our survival.
Areosa I, Martins TAE, Lourinho R, Batista M, Brito AG, Amaral L. 2024. Treated wastewater reuse for irrigation: A feasibility study in Portugal. SOTTE Journal 954:1-10. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176698
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