South Africa dealing with worsening water scarcity . The Anglo American mining company built a water treatment plant that uses desalination technology to convert water from the mine into drinking water , and treat industrial water so it can be safely released into the environment . As an added benefit , in the treatment process , gypsum is separated from the water and used as a construction material . The plant provides a safe and secure water source to the city , meeting 12 % of Emalahleni ’ s daily water needs . 8
WASTEWATER IN AGRICULTURE
Partly to help maximise yields to meet demand , usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has increased in recent years , both in industrial and small farming , making agriculture a potential source of environmental pollution .
Pollution of groundwater and surface water by agricultural use of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater is a major issue in many developing countries where such irrigation is practised .
Farmers are increasingly looking into non-conventional water resources , mainly wastewater , whether due to its high nutrient content or lack of conventional water resources . If applied safely , wastewater is a valuable source of both water and nutrients , contributing to water and food security and livelihood improvements .
Improved wastewater management can improve the health of workers , especially in agriculture , by reducing the risk of pathogen exposure . It can also create direct and indirect jobs in water-dependent sectors and beyond .
Example :
• Use of wastewater in farming . It is estimated that more than 40,000-60,000 km 2 of land is irrigated with wastewater or polluted water ( Jimenez and Asano , 2008 ), posing health risks to farmers and to eventual consumers of the agricultural products . Available technologies allow removal of almost all contaminants from wastewater , making them suitable for every use . The WHO Guidelines on Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture and Aquaculture and the Sanitation Safety Planning ( SSP ) approach provides a comprehensive framework to ensure that health risks are managed to protect public health .
8 For more information : “ The eMalahleni Water Reclamation Plant in South Africa ”: http :// www . iwa-network . org / filemanager-uploads / WQ _ Compendium / Cases / The % 20eMalahleni % 20Water . pdf
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