Downstream of downtown: urban wastewater as groundwater recharge

Wastewater infiltration is often a major component of overall recharge to aquifers around urban areas, especially in more arid climates. Despite this, such recharge still represents only an incidental (or even accidental) byproduct of various current practices of sewage effluent handling and wastewa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrogeology journal 2004-02, Vol.12 (1), p.115-120
Main Authors: Foster, S. S. D., Chilton, P. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arid climates
Effluents
Environmental hazards
Groundwater
Groundwater pollution
Groundwater recharge
Natural resources
Pollution
Sewage
Urban areas
Wastewater
Wastewater reuse
Water resources
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Summary:Wastewater infiltration is often a major component of overall recharge to aquifers around urban areas, especially in more arid climates. Despite this, such recharge still represents only an incidental (or even accidental) byproduct of various current practices of sewage effluent handling and wastewater reuse. This topic is reviewed through reference to certain areas of detailed field research, with pragmatic approaches being identified to reduce the groundwater pollution hazard of these practices whilst attempting to retain their groundwater resource benefit. Since urban sewage effluent is probably the only 'natural resource' whose global availability is steadily increasing, the socioeconomic importance of this topic for rapidly developing urban centres in the more arid parts of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East will be apparent.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1431-2174
1435-0157
DOI:10.1007/s10040-003-0296-y