Wastewater - Turning Problem to Solution

Wastewater characterisation

Volume and content

Municipal

Industrial

Physical characterisation

Governance Legislation Political will

Urban - rural

Environmental suitability Geographic suitability

Type of wastewater treatment system

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Social and cultural conditions Community values and behaviour Participation and willingness to pay

Economic conditions

Cost of establishment Cost of operation and maintenance Market value of recovered products

High tech

Nature based

Centralised - decentralised Intensive - extensive

Physical systems

Ecological systems Biological systems

End use identi cation

Resource recovery

Technical and institutional capacity

Design engineering Construction Operation

Fertilizer

Energy and heat

Non-potable water reuse

Potable water reuse

Water for municipalities

Water for irrigation

Water for industry

Environmental recharge

Figure 3.7: Finding the optimal solution to treat wastewater for resource recovery.

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