Risk management and environmental benefits of a prospective system for indirect potable reuse of municipal wastewater in France

Risk management and environmental benefits of a prospective system for indirect potable reuse of municipal wastewater in France

This paper presents the assessment of a planned scheme of indirect potable reuse (IPR) in the Vende´e region of France in its potential risks for human health and ecosystems, and also in its overall environmental impacts. Methods of risk assessment (quantitative microbial and chemical risk assessment) and life cycle assessment (LCA) are used to characterize the risk associated with the use of reclaimed water for IPR, but also the environmental benefits compared with other options for additional drinking water supply. The LCA results show that IPR is competitive with other options of water supply in its energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Pathogens as the main health hazard are controlled effectively by existing and planned preventive measures. For chemicals the number of potentially relevant substances could be reduced substantially by the assessment.