Alternative Uses of Treated Wastewater in Arizona

Abstract

Introduction: In the wake of renewed concern in recent years about environmental quality and its preservation, much has been said about the apparent conflict between environmental quality and economic development. In many instances these two objectives would seem to be in direct opposition to one another; in fact, as indicated by Cleary (1972), pollution in times past was accepted as the inevitable penalty of progress, as measured by economic growth. Currently, however, a popular view is that pollution is not socially acceptable and must be eliminated (the "zero-discharge" concept), almost without regard to economic considerations. While we are attempting to achieve a state of balance between these two approaches, it is evident that some activities can be so directed as to serve both objectives -- pollution control and the economic utilization of a resource. An example is the allocation of treated municipal wastewaters to beneficial uses, such that their environmental pollution potential is decreased, while they simultaneously serve as an input to an economically productive process or water-use activity.