Incidental potable water reuse in a Catalonian basin: living downstream

A preliminary assessment of incidental potable water reuse (IPR) in the Llobregat River basin has been conducted by estimating the dilution factor of treated effluent discharges upstream of six river flow measurement sections. IPR in the Llobregat River basin is an everyday occurrence, because of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of water reuse and desalination 2017-09, Vol.7 (3), p.253-263
Main Authors: Mujeriego, R., Gullón, M., Lobato, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aigua
Average flow
Case studies
Catalunya
Creeks & streams
Desalination
Dilution
Discharge
Downstream
Drinking water
Effluent treatment
Effluents
Enginyeria civil
Enginyeria hidràulica, marítima i sanitària
Enginyeria sanitària
Flow measurement
Incidental water reuse
Indirect potable water reuse
Living downstream
Measurement
Metropolitan areas
Public health
Quality
Reutilització
River basins
River flow
Rivers
Spain
Stream flow
Studies
Surface water
Unplanned reuse
Upstream
Wastewater discharges
Wastewater treatment
Water reuse
Water shortages
Water supply
Water utilities
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
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Summary:A preliminary assessment of incidental potable water reuse (IPR) in the Llobregat River basin has been conducted by estimating the dilution factor of treated effluent discharges upstream of six river flow measurement sections. IPR in the Llobregat River basin is an everyday occurrence, because of the systematic discharge of treated effluents upstream of river sections used as drinking water sources. Average river flows at the Sant Joan Despí measurement section increased from 400,000 m3/d (2007) to 864,000 m3/d (2008) and to 931,000 m3/d (2013), while treated effluent discharges upstream of that section ranged from 109,000 m3/d to 114,000 m3/d in those years. The highest degree of IPR occurs downstream of the Abrera and Sant Joan Despí flow measurement sections, from where about half of the drinking water supplied to the Barcelona Metropolitan Area is abstracted. Based on average annual flows, the likelihood that drinking water produced from that river stretch contained treated effluent varied from 25% (2007) to 13% (2008) and to 12% (2013). Water agencies and drinking water production utilities have strived for decades to ensure that drinking water production satisfies applicable quality requirements and provides the required public health protection.
ISSN:2220-1319
2408-9370
DOI:10.2166/wrd.2016.199