There is a great need for better knowledge about how different types of resources can be reused. One possible resource is treated wastewater. Research funding has been granted by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, SLU, for a multidisciplinary project (REASSURE). This will increase knowledge about how the use of treated wastewater could be a sustainable resource.
The researchers will study the differences in the reuse of wastewater and sludge across countries, and evaluate the contributing factors to these differences. Particular focus will be on understanding the obstacles to wastewater reuse in Sweden. The researchers will evaluate if the existing technologies and methods can efficiently remove hazardous pollutants in the wastewater for reuse.
REASSURE will be run over two years (2022-2023). It will be led by Foon Yin Lai, Associate Professor in Environmental Chemistry at the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, SLU. The work will also involve researchers across departments of SLU and from the Department of Global Public Health at Karolinska Institutet.
Wastewater can be divided into different fractions at the sources (for example households). One fraction is blackwater which comes from excreta, another is greywater which is all other water from households. If the different categories of water are separated, they can be obtained, treated, and reused in a more efficient manner. Blackwater allows the possibility of recycling nutrients that can be used as fertilizer, while greywater can be used in the water supply.
A range of harmful substances may be present in wastewater even after treatments. The substances are neglected in current regulations regarding water quality. Therefore, it is important to understand the risks to humans and the environment in connection to the reuse of wastewater. The results of the project will be used by Swedish authorities and will form the basis for continued work in the area and for future guidelines.
The work with wastewater issues is linked to several sustainability goals at the national and international levels. Swedish authorities need an updated overview of existing knowledge as a basis in their work towards achieving sustainability goals.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management were looking for researchers to summarise and analyse what is known in the areas of wastewater and eutrophication. The call also gives emphasis to the importance of pointing out the need for knowledge.
The overall purpose of the call is to contribute to policy development within sustainable water management. Then the target groups, administrators, and investigators at authorities get better instruments. Environmental goals must be achieved in the long term and to improve the state of the environment.