An overview of reclaimed water reuse in China

• Published in: Journal of environmental sciences (China) Vol. 23; no. 10; pp. 1585 - 1593
• Main Authors: Yi, Lili, Jiao, Wentao, Chen, Xiaoning, Chen, Weiping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.10.2011; State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100085, China%School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
• Subjects: China; Conservation of Natural Resources - legislation & jurisprudence; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Control; Effluents; Governments; Humans; issues and policy; pollution; recycling; Recycling - legislation & jurisprudence; Recycling - methods; Reuse; risk; Waste water; wastewater; Wastewater management; water crisis; water management; Water Purification - methods; Water resources; water reuse; Water Supply - legislation & jurisprudence; Water Supply - standards; 中国; 中水回用; 优化利用; 再生水回用; 废水管理; 水资源问题; 污水排放; 组成部分; China; China, People's Rep., Beijing; China, People's Rep., Tianjin; recycling; water management; water crisis
• ISSN: 1001-0742; 1878-7320
• DOI: 10.1016/S1001-0742(10)60627-4

China is facing severe water problems including scarcity and pollution which are now becoming key factors restricting developments. Creating an alternative water resource and reducing effluent discharges, water reuse has been recognized as an integral part of water and wastewater management scheme in China. The government has launched nationwide efforts to optimize the benefits of utilizing reclaimed water. This article reviewed the water reuse activities in China, including: (1) application history and current status; (2) potentials of reclaimed water reuse; (3) laws, policies and regulations governing reclaimed water reuse; (4) risks associated with reclaimed water reuse; (5) issues in reclaimed water reuse. Reclaimed water in Beijing and Tianjin were given as examples. Suggestions for improving the efficiencies of reusing urban wastewater were advanced. Being the largest user of reclaimed wastewater in the world, China's experience can benefit the development of water reuse in other regions.