Increasing Water System Robustness in the Netherlands: Potential of Cross-Sectoral Water Reuse

Water reuse has the potential to substantially reduce the demand on groundwater and surface water. This study presents a method to evaluate the potential of water reuse schemes in a regional context and demonstrates how water reuse propagates through the water system and potentially reduces pressure on groundwater resources. The use of Sankey diagram visualisation provides a valuable tool to explore and evaluate regional application of water reuse, its potential to reduce groundwater and surface water demand, and the possible synergies and trade-offs between sectors. The approach is demonstrated for the Dutch anthropogenic water system in the current situation and for a future scenario with increased water demand and reduced water availability due to climate change. Four types of water reuse are evaluated by theoretically upscaling local or regional water reuse schemes based on local reuse examples currently in operation in the Netherlands or Flanders: municipal and industrial wastewater effluent reuse for irrigation, effluent reuse for industrial applications, and reuse for groundwater replenishment. In all cases, water reuse has the potential to significantly reduce groundwater extraction volume, and thus to alleviate the pressure on the groundwater system. The water-quantity based analysis is placed in the context of water quality demands, health and safety aspects, technological requirements, regulations, public perception, and its net impact on the environment. This integrative context is essential for a successful implementation of water reuse in practice.

New level comprehensive approach: living water engineering

Опыт и компетенции на рынке водоснабжения и водоотведения, накопленные компанией ЭКОС Групп за более чем 30 лет развития и профессионального роста, бесценны. Опираясь на многолетнюю историю реализованных проектов, собственный научно-технический, проектный и производственный потенциал, ЭКОС Групп предлагает сегодня инновационные решения актуальных и сложных задач, оперативно реагирует на быстро изменяющиеся условия на рынке очистки и повторного использования сточных вод, следует новым тенденциям профессиональной среды, учитывает кризисные процессы в экономике и конкретные нужды клиентов с заботой о планете, о людях, о будущем, о профессии. Комплексный подход в реализации проектов обеспечивает на каждом этапе выполнение своих обязательств, исключая риски неоправданных затрат и сокращая вред, наносимый окружающей среде. The experience and competencies in the water supply and wastewater disposal market gained by ECOS Group over more than 30 years of development and professional growth, are invaluable. Based on the long history of implemented projects, scientific, technical, design and production and production experience, ECOS Group today offers innovative solutions to urgent and challenging tasks, quickly responds to rapidly changing conditions in the wastewater treatment and effluent reuse market, follows new trends in the professional environment. Ecos Group takes into account crisis processes in the economy and the specific needs of clients with care for the planet, people, the future, and the profession. A comprehensive approach to the implementation of projects ensures at every stage the fulfillment of the commitments eliminating the risks of unjustified costs and reducing damage to the environment.

Septage composition and pollution fluxes from cesspits in Palestine

The cesspit septage quality and pollution loads of total nitrogen (TN) and heavy metals (HMs) from 50 cesspits were assessed during various filling periods. The average specific wastewater production, emptied septage and infiltrated septage were 49, 30 and 19 L/c d, respectively. The TN specific loads of septage fractions that were emptied and infiltrated were 8.5 and 3.3 g/c d, respectively. The concentrations of HMs (mg/L) in the septage were Cu (0.24), Ni (0.03), Pb (0.01), Mn (0.47), Fe (12.6), Cr (0.04) and Zn (1.23). The septage content of Cu, Mn and Fe did not comply with the Palestinian regulations for wadi disposal nor effluent reuse in agriculture. The specific TN infiltration from cesspits amounts to 29 kg TN/ha y. There was no relation between the HM and TN content of septage and the desludging frequency. The infiltrated septage contributed to as much as 15% of the total groundwater recharge in the study area. This study confirms that cesspits in Palestine should be replaced with proper wastewater management systems for adequate environmental protection.