Reclaimed wastewater reuse topicality in Baltic Sea area: perspectives and risks

Abstract Increased water consumption, industrialisation and climate change are creating growing water consumption and thus stress on water resource availability and quality. A solution to reduce water resource consumption is reuse of reclaimed wastewaters. Such approaches are widely used in southern countries, where water shortages are everyday problems, but in Baltic Sea Regions (BSR) still are not common. To demonstrate feasibility of water reuse potential several case studies in the BSR has been started as well as studies on risks related with water reuse and potential. The risks of reclaimed water reuse are related to presence of microorganisms, viruses as well as persistent pollutants, however significance of risk factors are related to sizing of wastewater treatment facility and possible sources of risk factors. European Union regulations requires risk analysis as key process to support water reuse. Besides to already functioning technologies a search for approaches is going on to simplify process realisation as well as achieve risk reduction aims.