Access to clean water is one of the most basic human rights. Although three quarters of our world is covered with water, 97% of these water resources are salt water. Clean water that can be used by humans is less than 0.01% of the world's water (1). How much do we know about the world's most precious, most limited resource? Agricultural activities, industrial activities and unconscious domestic use can be given as the main causes of water pollution. How can we be conscious of the use of this resource, which is synonymous with life?
While 18% of the world's population does not have access to clean water today, it is predicted that by 2030, half of the people will live in countries with water scarcity (2). Although the issues of unnecessary consumption and saving of water are on the agenda in our country recently, water treatment technologies are also important for the recycling of resources on a large scale. Pollution of water resources with physical, chemical, biological and radiological wastes is a significant problem in both developing and developing countries.
Water has its own cycle in nature. Despite this, due to developing technology, increasing human activities and climate change, the recycling cycle of water cannot be realized quickly enough, which leads to the pollution of our resources. At this point, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the sustainable treatment and recovery of wastewater is vital. Methods such as filtration, coagulation-precipitation, flotation, adsorption, chlorination can be given among the methods used mainly for the treatment of wastewater.
Waste water recycling has many benefits. These can be summarized as follows;
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be sustainable,
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to be safe,
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To reduce energy consumption,
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Protection of clean water resources and surface waters,
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Providing permanent benefits to the economy
With the awareness developing today, many companies in our country continue their R&D studies for the sustainable treatment and recycling of water and carry out projects for information on the subject. Scientific studies in this area also give hope. We, too, should better understand the value of water in every aspect of our lives and make sure that we do our best to protect the source.
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Liu, J., A. Dorjderem, J. Fu, X. Lei, and D. Macer, (2011). Water Ethics and Water Resource Management.UNESCO.
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Zorba, S. Half the World to Face Severe Water Stress by 2030 unless Water Use is "Decoupled" from Economic Growth, Says International Resource Panel. United Nations Environment Programme.
