review · Environmental Chemistry Letters
Building construction consumes substantial volumes of freshwater, placing pressure on natural water supplies. Utilising recycled water in construction and operational building systems presents an alternative, though implementation faces barriers such as system complexity, expense, environmental variability, and poor coordination among developers, practitioners, and policymakers. In concrete production, replacing tap water with reclaimed water improves workability and consistency by 12 to 14 percent, whilst increasing viscosity by 11 percent and yield stress by 25 percent. Beyond structural materials, on-site recycling systems aid water conservation and economic efficiency, relying on treatment technologies such as membrane filtration and advanced oxidation processes. However, wider uptake remains constrained by the need for dual piping infrastructure, strict water quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. Overcoming these hurdles depends heavily on government interventions, including policy mandates, financial subsidies, and targeted incentives.
Freshwater depletion is an escalating global concern, and construction activities significantly intensify this resource strain. By demonstrating that recycled water can successfully substitute freshwater in concrete and building operations without sacrificing material performance, this work shows how urban developments can lower their environmental footprints, manage water scarcity risks, and improve resource efficiency.
The findings are relevant to property developers, construction contractors, and water treatment equipment providers. The concrete applications show applied and tested technical viability, demonstrating specific physical improvements. For broader building-level greywater systems, deployment is closer to an intermediate stage requiring dual piping, quality monitoring, and policy support, creating opportunities for suppliers of membrane filtration and advanced oxidation technologies.
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Abstract Building construction requires important amounts of freshwater, thus depleting the already stressed natural water resources. This issue could be addressed by using recycled water in construction and in building systems. However, integrating greywater recycling systems is limited by complexity, costs, vulnerability to environmental fluctuations, and coordination of policymakers, developers, and construction practitioners. Here, we review recycled water systems in buildings with focus on case studies of successful implementations, policies, recycled water treatment in buildings, and health aspects. Compared to conventional tap water, the incorporation of recycled water enhances the consistency and workability of reclaimed water concrete by 12–14%, and it increases concrete viscosity by 11% and yield stress by 25%. We discuss the intricacies of building water recycling systems, with emphasizing on conserving water, mitigating environmental impact, and enhancing economic efficiency. Challenges include water quality assurance, dual piping infrastructure, and regulatory compliance. Government interventions, including incentives, mandates, and subsidy policies, emerge as drivers for widespread adoption. Technological advancements, such as membrane filtration and advanced oxidation processes, are examined for strengths and limitations.
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DOI: 10.1007/s10311-023-01683-2
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