Circularity in wastewater allocation as a solution for increased water availability: A focus on optimization methods and applications

Wastewater resources continue to gain interest thanks to their ability to alleviate the stress on declining natural freshwater resources. Over the last years, the interest has shifted from the reduction of pollutants discharge and from the reduction of treatment processes’ emissions to the design of more efficient water networks and more sustainable water systems, facilitated through the reuse of by-products including water and recovered materials. This circular economy approach has enabled increased water availability coupled with reduced energy requirements and carbon emissions. This chapter investigates the role of circularity in increased water availability. It focuses on the different tools and approaches used for the design of optimum water networks and for the allocation of wastewater resources to different applications.