Exploring the social metabolism of urban wastewater reuse : Analysis framework and a case study in South-Central Chile
Neumann, Patricio (Universidad del Bío-Bío. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas)
Hidalgo, Steven (Universidad del Bío-Bío. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas)
Díaz, Michelle (Universidad del Bío-Bío)
Quintana, Carlos (Universidad del Bío-Bío)
Madrid, Cristina (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)

Date:	2024
Abstract:	Although wastewater reuse is a vital strategy for mitigating water scarcity, its implementation is complex and faces several challenges. To effectively inform decision-makers, comprehensive evaluations are essential, considering the strategy's benefits and socio-ecological constraints in a case-specific manner. This study employs the social metabolism concept to assess the sustainability of wastewater reuse, through the joint application of the Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Multiscale Integrated Assessment of Societal and Ecological Metabolism (MuSIASEM) tools. We analyze key aspects of wastewater reuse, including its potential as a water source, its technical challenges, and main social constraints. The results of our analysis highlight the potential of wastewater reuse to improve urban self-sufficiency, replace water in relevant economic activities at the regional level, and avoid the environmental impacts of wastewater discharge. Nevertheless, the viability of wastewater reuse is constrained by variations in wastewater flow and effluent quality. This limitation is further compounded by social barriers, which become more pronounced with increased contact with reclaimed water. Overall, the proposed framework serves as a valuable tool for evaluating wastewater reuse alternatives. It can be enriched by in-depth assessments of critical problems, providing a comprehensive approach to address the multifaceted aspects of sustainable wastewater reuse.
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Material flow analysis ; Musiasem ; Wastewater reuse ; Water metabolism ; SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation ; SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
Published in:	Sustainable Cities and Society, Vol. 106 (July 2024) , art. 105349, ISSN 2210-6715

DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2024.105349

Available from: 2026-07-31 Postprint

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles