Improved wastewater treatment could reduce fresh water demand

As concern continues to grow over the availability of fresh water and ways that the world can conserve water for future generations, a new study has predicted that wastewater will begin to play a more important role in global operations. Tottori University in Japan and UN University's Canadian Institute for Water, Environment and Health led the research, which suggests that wastewater will soon be reused for a number of purposes throughout the world.

Treated wastewater could end up being used for farming purposes, as well as having other industrial uses, which could help to reduce the freshwater demand within many areas. Although large volumes of wastewater are treated and could be suitable for reuse, the research found that in most areas it isn't used and that some countries fail to quantify it.

A total of 181 countries were included in the research, which found that only 55 of them maintain information on the main three aspects related to wastewater - creation, treatment, reuse. Some 57 countries keep no information on any wastewater aspects and 69 have information on one or two. Although some countries do have information, it was found to be mostly outdated with 63 per cent of the information being over five years old.     

The study, published in the journal 'Agricultural Water Management', found that around 40 per cent of the world's population currently demand more water than their region is able to supply. If things continue along this track, 60 per cent of the world could be affected by water shortages in just 12 years. The researchers suggest that the use of wastewater for certain uses could help to avoid this problem.

It was found that countries with high incomes currently treat around 70 per cent of the wastewater they generate, while upper-middle-income countries have the facilities to treat around 38 per cent of wastewater. Unfortunately low income countries, which are often those that are most affected by water shortages, are only able to treat around eight per cent of all wastewater generated.

If work was done to improve the levels of wastewater that is being treated around the world, it could ultimately lead to the wider use of wastewater for industrial purposes.