Prospects and challenges of effluent reuse and management of stream water quality: a review

The increase in generation and disposal of effluent into stream water and the growing adverse effects on stream water quality, ecosystem perturbation, and socio-economic activities have continued to grow unabated. The effects of effluent discharge into the stream water and destructive impacts due to negative feedback introduced into the aquatic system and ecosystem decay highlight the need for effluent reuse in order to arrest the lurking effects of disposal into the stream water. Consequently, addressing the adverse impacts of effluent discharge on stream water quality by focusing on the potential for effluent reuse appears critical. This paper reviewed the prospects and challenges of effluent reuse and the management of stream water quality. A web-based systematic search with reference to the ROSES protocol was conducted to source 280 articles that worked on stream water quality management and effluent reuse. Eight-four (84) peer-reviewed articles that met inclusion criteria were retained and reviewed after a thorough screening of the records. Agricultural activities (irrigation, livestock, vegetable farming, fish farming, fertilizer application), urban, industrial, and microalgae cultivation are identified as the major drivers of effluent reuse projects. The review reveals that agricultural activities, which account for about 50% of effluent reuse, are a spotlight where effluent reuse has enormous potential. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Iranian Society of Environmentalists (IRSEN) and Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University 2024.