Cirkulär vattenanvändning i Simrishamns kommun ur en kvalitetsaspekt - Möjligheterna för återanvändning av vatten för dricksvattenändamål och bevattning av åkermark efter konstgjord infiltration

Sammanfattning: Sufficient quantity and quality of fresh water is crucial for human survival and quality of life. Water resources in water scarce areas can be efficiently managed by water reuse. In the Swedish municipality of Simrishamn, water scarcity is already a fact. Therefore, indirect water reuse by artificial infiltration is considered. The aim of this project is to examine the chemical quality and thereby the possibility of reusing treated wastewater in Simrishamn municipality. The analysis was performed by in vitro bioassays, before and after artificial infiltration. Three wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) were sampled to evaluate their Nrf-, anti-AR-, AR-, ER-, and AhR-activities as well as genotoxicity. Additionally, a fourth WWTP where artificial infiltration is already performed was sampled and analyzed to evaluate the quality influence of the infiltration process. The results from the bioassays of the effluents were compared with threshold values and effects in existing raw water sources. The effluents are of raw water quality for some activities, but not for all. Before water reuse for irrigation, the water quality needs to be evaluated according to the related EU regulation. There is no clear way of monitoring the chemical quality of the complex and varying chemical mixture that is wastewater.