ADVANCING WATER CIRCULARITY: A SIMULATION OF HYDRODYNAMIC CAVITATION AND MEMBRANE PROCESSES FOR SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER REUSE

Water scarcity is a growing global challenge, exacerbated by population growth, industrialization, and climate change. As freshwater resources become more limited, water reuse has emerged as a promising solution to alleviate shortages. Reusing treated wastewater for agricultural use in arid and semi-arid regions is considered a sustainable approach to conserving freshwater and supporting food production. However, for this to be viable, treated wastewater must undergo rigorous treatment processes to ensure both food safety and environmental sustainability. A water circular economy is central to this approach, emphasizing the recycling and reuse of water in a closed-loop system to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency. In this model, wastewater is treated, purified, and reused across multiple sectors, reducing overall water consumption. For agriculture, reusing treated wastewater transforms what would be waste into a valuable resource, reducing dependence on freshwater sources. This study examines the integration of advanced treatment technologies into wastewater treatment plants to facilitate the safe and effective reuse of agricultural water. The research focuses on a simulation of a wastewater treatment plant designed for agricultural reuse, starting from a real industrial effluent. The treatment process incorporates innovative methods such as hydrodynamic cavitation, advanced oxidation processes, and membrane filtration to remove organic contaminants and inactivate pathogens. These technologies ensure that the treated wastewater meets the stringent water quality standards required for agricultural irrigation of all types of crops. This work demonstrates how integrating cutting-edge treatment technologies within a circular economic framework can significantly contribute to water sustainability, especially in water-scarce regions.