Ser vi början på återanvändning av renat avloppsvatten för beredning av dricksvatten? / Do we see the beginning of reuse of treated wastewater for potable use?
Involuntary or unconscious reuse of wastewater for potable use is reality all over the world. It is enough to have the intake to a water purification plant situated downstream of a waste water treatment plant in the same catchment area. Though conscious reuse has only existed to a limited extent, out of esthetical, ethical, economical or perhaps technical reasons. A new era was born with the opening of the new water purification plant in Windhoek, Namibia, in 1968, where wastewater is used directly for the production of drinking water. Since then several other cities have noticed this opportunity. This article illustrates the potential and possibilities that reuse of wastewater bring to cities with a growing need for fresh water. An idea study of how reuse of wastewater in Sweden could look like is presented for the circumstances in Malmö. Economically, reuse of water doesn’t necessarily need to become more expensive than conventional production. The great challenges for those who would like to see increased hygienically safe and aware reuse of wastewater, are mostly on an ethical and psychological level. The yuck factor lies heavy on the ambitions of many to increase the extent of reuse of wastewater.