Challenges and Opportunities for Wastewater Reuse in Municipal Consumptions: a Case Study in Tehran Metropolis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Student, UNESCO Chair on Water Reuse, University of Tehran, Iran

2 UNESCO Chair on Water Reuse and Associate Professor, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Although water is one of the most important natural resources in the world, it is facing with several threats. This is because of some of the serious environmental issues such as climate change, population growth and pollutions. One of the most promising solutions to overcome these challenges is alternative water resources such as sea water, wastewater, brackish water and etc. It should be noted that water demand is not the sole parameter for determining the allocation of treated wastewater. Various economic, social, technical and cultural aspects should be considered. This study, conducted to study the possibility of recycling of wastewater in Tehran and the existing challenges and opportunities is reviewed. Tehran’s annual water consumption is estimated around 1300 million cubic meters, whereas 800 million cubic meters of total consumption provided by dam reservoirs around the city and the rest supply through legal and illegal wells in Tehran aquifer. In the country vision for 2030, total treated wastewater in Tehran is estimated to be about 850 million cubic meters per year. Therefore planning for allocation of this amount of water in agriculture, industry, landscape and aquifer recharge is essential. Overcoming the obstacles and the effects of wastewater reuse through applying appropriate technologies, moving toward the decentralized wastewater treatment systems and enhancing social acceptance will be necessary.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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Volume 12, Issue 4 - Serial Number 38
Special Issue on the 6th National Conference on Water Resources Management
February 2017
Pages 36-49
  • Receive Date: 04 October 2016
  • Revise Date: 20 December 2016
  • Accept Date: 20 December 2016