Wastewater Reuse to Cope With Water and Nutrient Scarcity in Agriculture—A Case Study for Braunschweig in Germany
Water and nutrient scarcity threatens agricultural production and can be alleviated by reusing treated wastewater. However, wastewater reuse schemes are being challenged by increasingly strict regulations with regards to consumer protection and the environmental soundness of those practices. This development may compromise the economic viability of wastewater reuse schemes in the future. In this chapter, costs, benefits, and added-value impacts of wastewater reuse in agriculture are presented for a scheme in Germany. The case is particularly interesting as the conversion of waste products from wastewater treatment into usable inputs for agriculture results in additional added-value and promotes the emergence of circular economies (Circular economy - industrial economy ideally producing almost no waste and pollution). This direct benefit is believed to have contributed to a general support for wastewater reuse. The future of this scheme largely depends on its ability to secure the benefits of wastewater reuse in its present form as well as to implement adequate adaptation strategies to changes in the regulatory framework for the reuse of wastewater and sludge
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