Giving wastewater a second life
Last March, Emmanuel Macron presented a comprehensive plan comprising some fifty measures to promote water conservation. Against the backdrop of global warming, droughts are set to become more frequent and intense, depriving France of a significant portion of this essential resource. The effects of this water stress are already being felt: in the summer of 2022, for example, restrictions on agricultural irrigation led to estimated yield declines of between 10% and 40%.
Jennifer Gallé, The Conversation France; Elsa Couderc, The Conversation France and Julie Mendret, University of Montpellier
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One of these measures concerns the reuse of treated wastewater, or REUT. France is a novice in this field, with less than 1% of water used coming from this process. In Europe, Spain and Italy lead the way with 14% and 8% REUT respectively. The spring 2023 water plan proposes to increase France's share to 10% by 2030. This is an "ambitious goal," says Julie Mendret, PhD in environmental process engineering and lecturer at the University of Montpellier, guest on the latest episode of the podcast "L'échappée Sciences."
What are the reasons for France's delay? What are the steps involved in moving from wastewater treatment plants to REUT? What is done with this treated wastewater? Julie Mendret provides valuable answers to all these questions.
This new episode of "L'échappée Sciences" will focus on how trees collect water from the soil and distribute it to all levels of the tree to ensure hydration. Researchers and engineers are drawing inspiration from these regulatory strategies to develop filtration and desalination membranes.
We also learn that a large part of the water pumped by trees is returned to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. This "green" water is essential to the water cycle, but is still relatively unknown and is now a key area of study for hydrogeologists.
Animation and design, Jennifer Gallé and Elsa Couderc. Production, Romain Pollet. Credits music: "Chill Trap" by Aries Beats. Excerpts: TF1 news report from June 26, 2023, D. Sitbon, A. Cazabonne, A. Delabre; "The Trees They Do Grow High," Joan Baez/1961/UMG (on behalf of EMI).
Jennifer Gallé, Head of Environment + Energy, The Conversation France; Elsa Couderc, Head of Science + Technology, The Conversation France and Julie Mendret, Senior Lecturer, HDR, University of Montpellier
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