A perspective for the acceptance of water reuse

History of the valorization of wastewater throughout the development of society

Bibliographic Data

ID21697233
AuthorsAna Silvia Pereira Santos (0000-0001-7823-9837, a Department of Sanitary Engineering and Environment, University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 524 São Francisco Xavier St, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-900, Brazil, corresponding author), Maira Araujo de Mendonça Lima (a Department of Sanitary Engineering and Environment, University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 524 São Francisco Xavier St, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-900, Brazil), Maíra Lima (0000-0002-0606-5134, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro), Mickaela Midon Paixão (a Department of Sanitary Engineering and Environment, University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 524 São Francisco Xavier St, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-900, Brazil), Mickaela Midon da Paixão (0009-0009-0435-8900, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro), Eduardo Pacheco Jordão (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro), José Manuel Pereira Vieira (c CTAC – Centre of Territory, Environment and Construction – School of Engineering, University of Minho – Campus de Azurém, Guimarães, Portugal)
Year2024
Volume26
Issue4
Pages336-358
Publication date2024-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueWater Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1366-7017 • E-ISSN: 1996-9759
PublisherIWA Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.2166/wp.2024.196
OpenAlexW4393070448
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited24

Water reuse has been practiced for more than 5,000 years with different approaches by society throughout historical periods. We developed a concept that presents evidence and artistic-cultural manifestations about episodes of valorization (V), devaluation (D), and revaluation (R) of wastewater (WW) throughout history, called ‘Historical Development VxDxR/WW’. We conclude that WW has had a long valorization period of more than 3,500 years; the WW devaluation period lasted approximately 150 years; and in the last 100 years, there has been an attempt to revalue WW, with scientific, legal, and technological advances. We believe that a broad understanding of this concept can drive a true paradigm shift to guide public policies and appropriate decision-making, in the context of efficient water management. To guarantee a safe, sustainable, and economically viable water reuse practice, it is necessary to develop and implement a regulatory framework that involves, in addition to legal aspects, regional strategic planning and the production of social education instruments for the acceptance of water reuse. In this sense, this concept can pave the way for the necessary and expected advances

Business · Economics · Environmental ethics · Environmental planning · Natural resource economics · Reuse · Waste management · Wastewater · Wastewater Reuse · Computer Science · Engineering · Environmental Science · Philosophy · Water Governance and Infrastructure

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Open DOIOpen Access