Eawag: How wastewater can be reused for dry summers
Published: Thursday, Oct 17th 2024, 16:20
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Climate change is leading to increasingly hotter and drier summers and to water shortages in some regions of Switzerland. According to an Eawag study, the reuse of treated wastewater could help to solve this problem.
As part of the recently completed project "Water reuse in Switzerland", the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) investigated the possible reuse of treated domestic wastewater on behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment. This could be used for the irrigation of agricultural areas and green spaces, in households for washing machines and toilet flushing or in industry as cooling and process water.
In the USA, Australia and southern Europe, where water scarcity is part of everyday life, domestic wastewater has long been treated for reuse and in some cases even reaches drinking water quality. In Switzerland, however, the issue has not yet been addressed, as the institute announced in a press release on Thursday.
Majority of cantons consider it necessary
An Eawag research team led by Eberhard Morgenroth conducted a survey of the cantons to find out whether there is a need for water reuse in Switzerland. The result: 19 cantons identified a need for water reuse for various applications, including irrigation. Of these, 13 cantons are considering water reuse as an emergency measure during periods of drought.
Only four cantons stated that they had never considered water reuse to be necessary. When comparing the places where treated wastewater is produced in Switzerland and the places where water reuse is necessary, the scientists found a good match.
The largest quantities are produced in the large wastewater treatment plants in heavily urbanized areas, i.e. mainly on the Central Plateau. This is also where most of the potential uses are found: agricultural land, industry, households and urban green spaces.
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