Title: Sustainable wastewater management in developing countries: are constructed wetlands a feasible approach for wastewater reuse?

Authors: Giusy Lofrano, Sureyya Meric, Vincenzo Belgiorno

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA) 84084, Italy. ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA) 84084, Italy. ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA) 84084, Italy.

Abstract: Water shortage is a major problem in many developing countries and represents one of the key factors for their development. The quality of available resources has deteriorated owing to pollution by lack of wastewater treatment facilities and control mechanisms/laws. Therefore there is a great need to propose appropriate wastewater management in developing countries. This paper summarises wastewater management policies applied in developing countries which in many cases involve reuse for irrigation. An evaluation of constructed wetlands is proposed in prospect of reuse and of a sustainable management of water resources.

Keywords: developing countries; constructed wetlands; sustainable development; wastewater treatment; wastewater reuse; sustainable wastewater management; sustainability; irrigation; water resources.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2008.018468

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2008 Vol.33 No.1, pp.82 - 92

Published online: 25 May 2008 *

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