ABSTRACT
The reuse or utilization of wastewater, faecal sludge and its embodied resources is widely acknowledged in the field of sanitation as a key component of complete sanitation. Reuse, for agriculture and other applications, is conventionally considered a means of mitigating water shortage or abating water pollution. We contend that reuse-oriented sanitation can also be leveraged to improve the long-term efficacy of a treatment scheme by providing tangible and quantifiable incentives for sound operation and maintenance that exceed those associated with running a disposal facility. The standards that need to be met for agricultural reuse
are different from those required for discharge to the aquatic environment. This difference requires a change in the design philosophy and can lead to cost savings in the type of treatment process, the energy demand and the skills needed for operation. So, rather than a more complex system, wastewater treatment designed for agricultural reuse can result in a more appropriate plant for developing countries striving to enhance access to improved sanitation.
