National Academies Report Released: Water Reuse: Potential for Expanding the Nation's Water Supply through Reuse of Municipal Wastewater (2012)

Today, the National Academies Press (NAP) released a report produced by the Committee on the Assessment of Water Reuse as an Approach to Meeting Future Water Supply Needs; and the National Research Council titled, Water Reuse: Potential for Expanding the Nation's Water Supply through Reuse of Municipal Wastewater (2012). The 262 page report is available free for download here (with a one-time registration). According to the abstract, 

Expanding water reuse--the use of treated wastewater for beneficial purposes including irrigation, industrial uses, and drinking water augmentation--could significantly increase the nation's total available water resources. Water Reuse presents a portfolio of treatment options available to mitigate water quality issues in reclaimed water along with new analysis suggesting that the risk of exposure to certain microbial and chemical contaminants from drinking reclaimed water does not appear to be any higher than the risk experienced in at least some current drinking water treatment systems, and may be orders of magnitude lower. This report recommends adjustments to the federal regulatory framework that could enhance public health protection for both planned and unplanned (or de facto) reuse and increase public confidence in water reuse.