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Sustainability Assessment for Indirect Potable Reuse: A Case Study from Reno, Nevada
Author(s) -
Haak Laura,
Sundaram Vijay,
Pagilla Krishna
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143017x15131012153185
Subject(s) - reuse , environmental science , reclaimed water , water resource management , water quality , sustainability , status quo , water supply , water scarcity , water resources , groundwater , environmental engineering , wastewater , waste management , engineering , ecology , geotechnical engineering , economics , market economy , biology
A triple bottom line (TBL) approach was used to examine the trade‐offs between potential reclaimed water management strategies in a closed basin. The goals of the water management strategy included minimizing water source shortages, ensuring safe and resilient future water supplies, and protecting inland ecosystems through adequate surface flows. The TBL approach consisted of quantitative and qualitative impact assessments of social, environmental, and economic criteria. This research examined how potable reuse of reclaimed water addresses water needs in a closed basin such as maintaining water quality, managing reclaimed water disposal, meeting growing water demand, balancing groundwater extraction rates with inflows, preserving inland ecosystems, and ensuring a locally controlled safe drinking water source. The TBL assessment first evaluated water stress based on water demand and supply under status quo conditions. The results were compared with the potable reuse scenario, which provides more environmental and social benefits than the status quo scenario.