Reclaimed water use is being propounded as the best alternative source to address water demand concerns. Apprehensions exist concerning the microbial risks to the environment and public health. However, there is a growing interest in the risk assessment approach that can assimilate scientific and statistical programs to predict microbial risks in reclaimed water and ensure safe reuse. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is a systematic framework for predicting this risk in either infection, illness or death. The present review provides insight into the current state of knowledge about the reclaimed water, its potential reuse applications, components of the QMRA framework and its application for reclaimed water management. The emphasis is placed on fundamental ideas and how the QMRA framework is applied to ensure the safe use of reclaimed water. This paper summarizes the challenges and knowledge gaps that require brainstorming and better understanding. The focus is to view the QMRA framework as a corresponding discipline that creates value for achieving sustainable reclaimed water reuse, not as a barrier.

再生水的使用正被提议作为解决水需求问题的最佳替代来源。存在对环境和公众健康的微生物风险的担忧。但是，人们对风险评估方法的兴趣与日俱增，该方法可以吸收科学和统计程序以预测再生水中的微生物风险并确保安全回用。定量微生物风险评估（QMRA）是用于预测感染，疾病或死亡风险的系统框架。本综述提供了对再生水，其潜在的回用应用，QMRA框架的组成部分及其在再生水管理中的应用的当前知识状态的见解。重点放在基本思想上，以及如何应用QMRA框架来确保安全使用再生水。本文总结了需要集思广益和更好理解的挑战和知识差距。重点是将QMRA框架视为可为实现可持续再生水再利用创造价值的相应学科，而不是障碍。