Wastewater reuse: a resource or a nuisance?

As demand for good quality water increases, some areas in the United States find that traditional finite sources cannot meet all needs. Although many utilities draw potable supplies from water that has previously been used upstream, the direct reuse of treated water for potable supplies is limited by unknowns concerning health effects and by costs. Planned reuse options, however, are feasible water conservation techniques, especially for industrial and agricultural uses. Reclaimed wastewater can also be used to recharge groundwater, thereby augmenting potable supplies.