Advanced Wastewater Study Guide

The fashion industry contributes 20% of industrial water pollution  With a high water footprint, massive chemical use and atmospheric, water and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, dyehouse operations are the most environmentally damaging component of the apparel supply chain2.Global brands are responding by requiring manufacturers to treat wastewater and reduce effluent. Paradoxically, conventional water treatment systems generate toxic sludge, trading water pollution for solid, chemical discharge that is landfilled and emits GHG – mostly methane.

Due to water shortage, wastewater reuse has gained great importance in many parts of the world. Wastewater reuse practices have become valuable source in water resources management. As an independent source of water, reclaimed water can increase the reliability of water supply. Reclaimed wastewater requires effective measures to protect public health and the environment. Strong wastewater reuse guidelines and regulations are developed for the purpose. It is difficult to establish wastewater guidelines and regulations that can suit all regions in the world. Among the broad reasons for this as limiting factors, are economics of countries relating chosen treatment technologies and additionally, the local context of a region must be taken into consideration in settings. Almost all wastewater reuse guidelines and regulations are bacteriological-based. Some of them consider biochemical parameters. In this lesson you will comprehend the importance as well as the necessity of setting wastewater reuse guidelines and regulations. You will be aware of arising problems for getting universal valid standards. You will get an overview of guidelines and regulations existing worldwide and regionally.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims to ensure the availability and management of water and sanitation for all, including an end to open defecation, by 2030.1 Lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation affect all aspects of human life across the globe, having the largest negative effects on least developed countries and marginalized communities. About 36% of the global population live in water-scarce regions, with more than two billion people having no other choice but to consume contaminated water. Water pollution is the greatest culprit in ecosystem destruction, leading to biodiversity loss with often irreversible consequences. Water scarcity is expected to displace 700 million people by 2030, while desertification will put the livelihood of one billion people living in 100 countries across the world at risk by 2050.2 Despite these risks, our society has very few incentives to consume less water, maintain water quality, or allocate funding and resources to ecosystems or social objectives.3 In order to fulfill the objectives of the SDG 6, the High Level Panel on Water called for a “fundamental shift in the way the world looks at and manages water”, noting that a 40% shortfall in water availability by 2030 could be expected if no action is taken.4 An urgent need to develop innovative approaches to solve global water scarcity and quality issues has arisen, as traditional financing solutions and technologies have proven to be insufficient in addressing these challenges.