REVIEW PAPER
Wastewater as a Source of Productive Water,
Biomass, and Energy at Low Cost Against
the Respective Scarcities in the Present
and the Future in African Countries
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1
Department of Biological Sciences, Université Nazi Boni, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
2
Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
3
Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria
4
Department of Food Science and Technology. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Submission date: 2022-11-18
Final revision date: 2022-12-10
Acceptance date: 2022-12-14
Online publication date: 2023-09-21
Publication date: 2023-10-25
Corresponding author
Bilassé Zongo
Departement of Biological Sciences, Université Nazi Boni, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(6):4937-4952
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ABSTRACT
With the increasing population and urbanization in the world, generated wastewater is an alternative
to water scarcity. Treated wastewater has environmental, human health and socio-economic benefits.
However, in Africa, 95% of raw-wastewater is released into the environment. Therefore, this paper
emphasizes wastewater reuse meeting the standard criteria, particularly in Africa.
Data were collected based on peer review literature on wastewater reuse systems, and handling
systems in general and specifically in Africa. In addition, online publications and onsite visits in
Burkina Faso and Nigeria allow apprehending wastewater reuse systems in the world including Africa.
Then, analysis was done and challenging prospects were identified.
Results show that from ancient to the present, wastewater is disposed of or reused for different
purposes. Because of increasing waterborne diseases, advanced water reclamation technologies were
developed for water reuse. In Africa, raw wastewater is still disposed of and reused while cost-effective
technologies and facilities are now developed for wastewater reclamation. Consequently, populations are
suffering from waterborne diseases. Produced effluent meeting the standards for reuse is the appropriate
treatment. To make it possible in Africa, leaders must pay attention to population wellbeing as a priority,
to infrastructures and their maintenance, to integrated technologies for cost-effective treatment, and to
consider the removal of antimicrobial resistances.