In areas where clean water sources are unavailable, programs are sometimes undertaken to recycle waste water, or effluent, for human consumption. Proponents of this process have noted that drinking recycled water is better than dying of thirst in a drought-stricken environment, but skeptics question the safety of drinking effluent.
By-Products
Certain water-recycling techniques produce unwanted by-products. A 2008 report by Dahl Cummins, which was published by the Gold Coast Water Watch Citizens' Action Group, notes that using ozone to disinfect the water creates harmful by-products such as bromate. The report also concludes that the toxicology of other compounds created with this method of water disinfection are not well understood, and indicates that there may be other dangers in the by-products of this process.
Fecal Contamination
Recycling gray water, which is the discarded water from washing machines and showers, risks fecal contamination. Fecal matter in gray water can serve as a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms that may be harmful if ingested, according to a 2007 article in the "Sydney Morning Herald."
Small Amounts of Other Contaminants
The director of infectious diseases and microbiology at ACT Pathology told the "Sydney Morning Herald" that the reverse osmosis systems proposed for recycling effluent in drought-affected parts of Australia do not fully remove all contaminants. Noting that it leaves 1 or 2 percent of the water's salt content in the treated product, he proposes that there may be other contaminants, such as viruses, which could penetrate the reverse osmosis membrane and enter recycled water. The 2008 report by Dahl Cummins echoes this concern, as it calls attention to the ability of enteroviruses and reoviruses to penetrate microfiltration barriers and remain in the water supply.
Irradiation
The 2008 Cummins report calls attention to recycled water stored in natural wetlands, where a variety of plant and animal life grows within it. When the water is reclaimed and processed for human consumption, any organisms within it are irradiated with cobalt 60. The full extent of cobalt 60's effect on these microorganisms is not known, and neither is its effect on humans. But Cobalt 60 is a known source of gamma radiation that permanently damages living tissue at the genetic level. Because of these dangers, irradiation may be a cause for concern among consumers of recycled effluent.
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