2023-07-13 12:20:06
What are the uses for reusing this water?
Non-potable water can potentially be used for multiple purposes:
agricultural : direct irrigation or supply of irrigation canals;industrial : energy production, supply of cooling systems for air-cooling towers, car washing in stations, artificial snow making, etc. ;urban : watering of green spaces, washing of roads, fire reserve, cleaning of roads, urban heating, etc. ;domestic uses : supplying toilet flushes, washing clothes, cleaning floors and surfaces, watering the vegetable garden;recreational : irrigation of golf courses, supply of ponds, ornamental basins (fountain, wall, etc.), or expanses of surface water used for sports (swimming, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, fishing), etc. .environmental : artificial recharge of underground water tables, supply of ornamental ponds, irrigation of forests or wetlands, etc.
In some countries with high water stress, wastewater can be reused to producedrinking water human (EDCH).
Since wastewater can contain various pathogenic micro-organisms and sometimes toxic organic and mineral chemical substances, their reuse in France is subject to regulations.
What is ANSES’s role?
In the field of water reuse, the Agency carries out expert appraisals to assess the risks to health and the environment:
upstream of the development of the regulatory framework; in support of the competent authorities on draft regulatory texts; on experimental projects.
This risk assessment takes into account both the dangers inherent in each type of water whose reuse is envisaged, the treatment means available taking into account the intended uses and the control and monitoring provisions necessary to ensure control.
What water reuse solutions are currently authorized in France?
In France, to date, authorized use of non-potable water mainly concerns:
the reuse of treated wastewater (REUT) from urban wastewater treatment plants for agricultural irrigation and watering of green spaces; industrial wastewater for washing roads, cleaning network pipes, supplying fire hydrants, etc. ;THE rainwater collected downstream from inaccessible roofs (to limit contamination) for washing clothes.
In addition, when the sanitary conditions are respected, the Prefects have the possibility of authorizing the use of treated gray water for certain domestic uses: supplying toilets, watering green spaces or washing exterior surfaces without generating aerosols (without using a high-pressure cleaner).
The reuse of treated urban wastewater for watering green spaces or irrigating crops
In France, the reuse of treated urban wastewater is seen as an interesting alternative for irrigating crops or watering green spaces. In certain situations, this practice could in fact make it possible to prevent water shortages and preserve water resources, particularly during periods of prolonged drought or in areas with low availability of water resources.
However, urban wastewater, treated by a treatment plant, contains pathogenic micro-organisms and potentially toxic organic and mineral chemical substances. The conditions for reusing treated wastewater for irrigating crops or watering green spaces have been subject since 2010 to a regulatory framework in order to prevent the health risks associated with this practice.
ANSES’s work from 2008 to 2012 contributed to the establishment of French regulations governing the conditions for reusing treated wastewater for these uses. ANSES stresses in particular that residents, passers-by or professionals employed in watering tasks may be exposed by spraying during operations to reuse treated wastewater. Consequently, the Agency has proposed a set of recommendations with a view to supplementing the regulatory provisions, in particular technical prescriptions specific to irrigation by spraying treated wastewater (maximum wind speed, safety distance) and recommendations aimed at limiting the exposure of residents, passers-by and professionals by informing the public or prohibiting access to the site during and after irrigation.
Since 2020, the reuse of treated urban wastewater for agricultural irrigation has been governed by European regulation (EU) 2020/741 of 25 May 2020 which sets minimum requirements at Community level relating to water quality according to uses. French regulations therefore needed to be brought into line with the provisions of this regulation, and ANSES published an opinion on this draft order.
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The reuse of industrial wastewater for other uses
Resulting from the AGEC law relating to the fight against waste and the circular economy, the decree of March 10, 2020 authorizes new uses of treated wastewater: street washing, cleaning of network pipes, but also recharging. of tablecloth. This broadening of possible uses facilitates the emergence of new multi-use projects by making them more economically viable.
New treated wastewater reuse projects will be permitted for a limited time. They will make it possible to advance knowledge and data on these new uses. The ultimate objective remains to define national requirements in order to facilitate these practices and increase the volumes of treated wastewater used in France.
The reuse of gray water for domestic uses
Greywater is non-potable water from showers, bathtubs, sinks, washing machines, sometimes kitchen sinks and dishwashers. The reuse of treated greywater for domestic use is arousing growing interest in France, but also raises questions. Indeed, gray water is only authorized for certain uses, and by prefectural derogation on the basis of ANSES’s expertise.
In fact, with regard to the data available in 2015, the Agency considered that the reuse of gray water in housing can only be envisaged for strictly limited uses, in geographical environments permanently and repeatedly affected by water shortages. Subject to the implementation of treatment and appropriate risk management measures, treated gray water can be adapted to three uses in the domestic environment, if it meets specific quality criteria:
supplying toilet flushes; watering green spaces (excluding vegetable gardens and agricultural uses); washing exterior surfaces without generating aerosols (without using a high-pressure cleaner).
To know more :
1689336014
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