Wastewater Use
POSSIBLE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Examples of sound investments in treated wastewater use include the following :
• Water swaps as a substitute for existing uses of ( raw or potable ) water for reclaimed water
• Rehabilitation of wastewater treatment plants
• Construction of new wastewater treatment plants using appropriate technologies
• Sewer systems that separate municipal from industrial wastewater
• Surface storage reservoirs for reclaimed water
• Pilot projects on separate reuse of urine and feces through decentralized systems ( ecological sanitation ) in small towns and periurban areas .
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTITIONERS
Recommendations for countries experienced in reuse are different from those for countries just embarking on reuse . Comprehensive recommendations include the following :
• Support for master plans that integrate reuse in the planning and design of sanitation projects and that build it into agricultural programs
• National reviews of reuse policies , including multistakeholder workshops
• Creation of interdepartmental working groups at the national and / or local levels
• Awareness building on health and environmental risks for farmers using untreated wastewater or reclaimed water
• Development of economic and environmental models to support decision making about reuse investments and policies , including policies on subsidies
• Promotion of regional exchange of experiences through professional networks
• Support for research on reuse technology and biophysical sustainability , on institutional arrangements for reuse as part of master planning , on factors that enhance or inhibit social acceptability , and on farmers ’ and users ’ innovations with water reuse .
For countries embarking on reuse , the following apply :
• Introduction of appropriate national reuse standards
• Introduction of appropriate crop restrictions .
And for countries that have made progress in reuse , the following apply :
• Formal arrangements between farmers and utilities specifying mutual rights and responsibilities
• Design of tariffs for reclaimed water .
REFERENCES CITED
Croke G ., B . Kracman , and C . Wright . 1999 . “ The Virginia Pipeline Scheme , Adelaide South Australia — Commercial Solutions to Environmental Problems .” Paper presented at the 17th Congress on Irrigation and Drainage . Granada , Spain , September 11 – 19 . Special Session R7 .
UNDP ( United Nations Development Programme ). 1998 . Global Human Development Report 1998 . New York : Oxford University Press .
WHO ( World Health Organization ). 1989 . Health Guidelines for the Use of Wastewater in Agriculture and Aquaculture . Report of a Scientific Group . Technical Report Series 778 . Geneva : World Health Organization .
WHO and UN Children ’ s Fund ( UNICEF ). 2000 . Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 Report . New York : WHO / UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation .
World Bank and Swiss Development Cooperation . 2001 . “ Water for Sustainable Growth .” Regional Workshop on Water Reuse , July 2 – 5 , Cairo . Sponsored by the World Bank , Middle East and North Africa Region , in cooperation with National Water Research Center , Ministry of Water and Irrigation , Egypt .
World Bank . 2005 . Shaping the Future of Water for Agriculture : A Sourcebook for Investment in Agricultural Water Management . Washington , DC : World Bank .
This Note was prepared by Chris Scott of International Water Management Institute ( IWMI ). It was revised by Salah Darghouth , Water Adviser for the Agriculture and Rural Development Department ( ARD ) of the World Bank , and Ariel Dinar , Lead Economist in ARD at the World Bank — both part of the Water For Food Team . The note is based on Investment Note 5.3 in the larger volume Shaping the Future of Water for Agriculture : A Sourcebook for Investment in Agricultural Water Management . The book documents a range of solutions and good practices from World Bank and worldwide experience , concentrating on investments in policy and institutional reforms in technology and management to improve water productivity and farming profitability . You can download a copy of the full report at www . worldbank . org / rural or email ard @ worldbank . org .
THE WORLD BANK 1818 H Street . NW Washington , DC 20433 www . worldbank . org / rural
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