The Wastewater as an untapped resource – our situation and what needs to be done

Abstract

From a hydrological perspective, the climate is changing unfavourably for us; but at the same time, we use declining water resources, and in some places, we overuse them. The use of wastewater and polluted waters (rainwater, urban runoff) as potential resources should and must be investigated. In Hungary, approximately 687.4 million m3 of water is extracted annually by water utility providers, of which 481.1 million m3 is utilized (sold), and of this, industry requires 105 million m³ of water. Of the 687.4 million m3 of extracted water, 561.2 million m³ of treated wastewater is generated; therefore, there is ample potential in terms of quantity to meet the water needs of industry (105 million m³). By implementing appropriate strategies, dialogues and actions, the burden on valuable drinking water resources can be greatly reduced. This is not an easy task, but it is not impossible either. The article examines this issue, briefly presenting the example of Debrecen.