Abstract
The increasing extent and diversity of wastewater use, even without appropriate treatment, present public health risks. We describe existing approaches and options to managing health risks in various wastewater uses. Traditionally, regulators have used water quality standards achieved through wastewater treatment for health protection. The chapter presents some of the treatment technologies, including membrane filtration, which is increasing popular and effective in removing pathogens and other pollutants. However, the high investment, operation and maintenance costs of these technologies limit their use in resource constrained settings. In these settings, the use of health-based targets achieved through placing multiple barriers along the food chain is recommended. In this approach, firms, farmers, and public agencies have flexibility to choose from a range of low-cost risk management options which in combination can achieve the health targets. Returns on Investment (ROI) of these interventions are high (US$ 4.9 per US$ invested), if incentive systems and institutional arrangements are in place to support the application and adoption of these risk management measures.
Kate Medlicott is a staff member of the World Health Organization. She and her co-authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this publication and they do not necessarily represent the decisions or policies of the World Health Organization.
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Keraita, B., Drechsel, P., Mateo-Sagasta, J., Medlicott, K. (2015). Health Risks and Cost-Effective Health Risk Management in Wastewater Use Systems. In: Drechsel, P., Qadir, M., Wichelns, D. (eds) Wastewater. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9545-6_3
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