Assessment of ecological environment benefits of reclaimed water reuse in Beijing

With the rapid development of the social economy and the sustained growth of population,China is facing increasingly serious water problems,and reclaimed water utilization has become an effective measure to solve water shortage problem and to control further deterioration of the ecological environment. Reclaimed water utilization can not only save a lot of fresh water,but also reduce the environmental impact of wastewater discharge, and thus has great ecological environmental benefits, including resource,environmental and human health benefits and so on. This study used the opportunity cost method to construct an evaluation system for ecological environmental benefits of reclaimed water utilization,and Beijing was taken as an example to conduct an estimation of ecological environmental benefits of reclaimed water utilization. Research results indicated that the reclaimed water utilization in Beijing had considerable environmental benefits for $ 1. 2 billion in 2010,in which replacement of fresh water accounted for the largest share.The benefits of environmental improvement and groundwater recharge were large,while the other benefits were small or negative. The ecological environment benefits of reclaimed water utilization in Beijing was about 1. 8 times that of its direct economic benefits,showing that reclaimed water utilization was in accordance with sustainable development. Related methods and results will provide scientific basis to promote the development of reclaimed water utilization in our country.