Resource Recovery

Official Position Statement Approved by WEF

Date of Approval: October 6, 2022

Expiration Date: October 5, 2027

Natural resources are limited, and their recovery is essential to healthy, sustainable communities. Water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) provide the key to sustainable resource management for resources such as energy, carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen. The following are resource recovery options available to WRRF:

  • Nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, are abundant in wastewater while in limited supply. Their recovery offers an opportunity to generate such valuable products as struvite, ammonia, and other fertilizers.
  • WRRFs can recover renewable natural gas as well as more energy from biosolids than they can do today through drying, gasification, and incineration. Diversifying markets make available new end uses for biosolids in agriculture, horticulture, soil reclamation, and carbon sequestration.
  • Wastewater contains chemical, thermal, and hydraulic energy and with today’s technology, a portion of these energy forms can be recovered at WWRFs and should be considered and evaluated for alternative end uses.
  • Wastewater can be treated for indirect and direct potable use, as well as irrigation, groundwater recharge, and industrial uses.

READ WEF'S OFFICIAL POSITION STATEMENT ON RESOURCE RECOVERY

Related Areas

Latest News
Latest News
WEF, Amazon, Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania, and Leading Utilities of the World Launch Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence
See more
WEFTEC 2025 Opens in Chicago with Bold Vision for Resilient Water Future
See more
Ukrainian Water Utilities Join WEFTEC 2025 as Part of Pioneering Capacity-Building Exchange Program
See more
WEF Announces 2025–2026 Board of Trustees
See more
How the City of Phoenix Built Comprehensive In-House PFAS Testing Capabilities
See more
Upcoming WEF Events
Upcoming WEF Events
AWWA/WEF Utility Management Conference 2025
See more
Joint Conference: Residuals & Biosolids and Innovations in Treatment Technology
See more
WEF Webcasts
See more

Where the Water Sector Connects

See how WEF connects the people and ideas driving clean water and public health. Membership gives you access to benefits, resources, and a network committed to impact.

Join or Renew Online