posted on 2021-10-15, 11:29authored byRachel
C. Scholes, Angela N. Stiegler, Cayla M. Anderson, David L. Sedlak
As more cities experience
water stress, the use of reverse osmosis
(RO) membranes for wastewater treatment and reuse will expand. The
concentrated waste stream resulting from RO treatment can pose chronic
ecotoxicity risks if discharged to surface waters or shallow coastal
ecosystems. Most existing RO concentrate treatment technologies are
cost prohibitive, but constructed wetlands hold promise as a viable
multibenefit solution because they have the potential to provide simultaneous
treatment of nutrients, metals, and trace organic contaminants at
a relatively low cost. They also are popular with the public. A handful
of water-stressed cities have already begun experimenting with constructed
wetlands for RO concentrate treatment. However, further research is
needed to reduce the land area needed for treatment and increase the
reliability of constructed wetland systems.