“Case Study” continued from page 3... Spring 2015 – Water Reuse Solutions Recycled Water Policy established aggressive goals to increase recycled water production in order to help meet the State’s overall water supply goal (by 2020, increase recycled water use Understanding Potable Reuse by 1 million acre-feet per year over A Key Part of Our Water Supply Solutions 2002 levels). While recycled water for agriculture, landscape, industrial and other purposes will always be needed in California, they will probably not be Potable Reuse Education — Sharing able to meet their recycled water goals People who tour City of San Diego’s demonstration project learn about the various stages of without fully expanding potable reuse Solutions to Water Supply Challenges water purification. options. Numerous regions of the world are treated water through an environ- experiencing drought and resulting mental buffer, such as a groundwater Significant legislation promoting lack of water supplies. While using aquifer or surface water reservoir. How Does the Advanced Water Purification potable reuse in California has been purified water for drinking is not new, SB 918 (Pavley 2010), which requires innovative projects in Australia, Texas, Since 2012, two Texas cities (see page Process Work? the State to evaluate the feasibility of California and elsewhere are currently 3) have been operating the nation’s Currently*, most advanced water puri- through the molecular structure of direct potable reuse by the end of 2016. providing advanced water purification first DPR plants. Likewise, in 2012, fication processes involve a multi-stage membranes. Things like fertilizers, to increase water supplies. These California has embarked on an aware- What is process of micro-filtration, reverse pharmaceutical, viruses and finally California’s potable reuse effort aims to projects can serve as models for other ness effort to help establish DPR as a osmosis, and ultraviolet light with salts or minerals are removed. The contribute to this effort by providing states and municipalities. water supply option. The ongoing effort Potable Reuse? advanced oxidation: result is near distilled quality water. independent, peer-reviewed research is to address the regulatory, scientific, for regulators, utilities and communities WateReuse provides countries, states, technical, and attitudinal issues sur- Potable reuse refers to purified • The water first goes through micro- • Now the water is purified, but one as they consider the implementation of municipalities and water districts with rounding potable reuse projects. This is water you can drink. It’s highly filtration, a pretreatment process, more step provides a safety barrier: potable reuse in various communities information and tools that can lead to being accomplished through funding treated to meet or exceed federal where water is either pushed or pulled The water is exposed to ultraviolet in the State of California and beyond. establishment of Direct Potable Reuse of independent and rigorous scientific and state drinking water standards through tiny tube-like membranes. light with advanced oxidation to Subsequent legislation, SB 322 (Hueso (DPR) or Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) research and communicating findings and is safe for human consump- Each membrane is like a straw with cause any remaining organic mole- 2013), directed the Department of projects that are both sustainable and and data through public outreach and tion. How potable reused water is microscopic holes in the sides of the cules to break down into safe simple Public Health, in consultation with the protective of public health. As new awareness programs. delivered determines if it is called straws, 1/300th the width of a human elements, like oxygen, nitrogen, State Water Resources Control Board, water supply options, DPR projects Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) or hair! As the water moves through the carbon, etc. to develop a public review draft of treat wastewater, including sewer water, WateReuse is sharing solutions and Direct Potable Reuse (DPR). tubes, protozoa, solids and bacteria the potable reuse report available by that has been cleaned for return to best practices from 26 independent are removed from the water. After this process the water is cleaner September 2016 and established an the environment and actually further research projects, made with invest- Indirect Potable Reuse means the than most bottled water. advisory group representative of the clean or purify it to meet all drinking ments of over $11.5 million, to eval- water is delivered to you indirectly. • The water then is treated through public to provide a forum for public water standards. This purified water is uate and demonstrate the feasibility After it is purified, the reused reverse osmosis where it’s forced (*Alternative processes are being evaluated.) discussion and to assist the expert regulated by water quality and health of DPR. The research revolves around water blends with other supplies panel in its deliberations. officials and implemented by water developing a robust monitoring and and/or sits a while in some sort utilities in a safe, cost-effective and redundant water purification system. of man-made or natural storage In his SB 322 signing message, Cal- environmentally responsible manner. These projects will help inform other before it gets delivered to a pipe- ifornia Governor Jerry Brown wrote Uses may include purifying water to communities and governments moving line that leads to a drinking water “This information is past due … Cal- distilled quality for industrial processes, forward when considering a range of plant or distribution system. That ifornia needs more high quality water as well as for drinking. IPR projects potable reuse projects. storage could be a groundwater and recycling is key to getting there.” add the step of passing the highly basin or a surface water reservoir.

Direct Potable Reuse means the Wichita Falls’ DPR purified water is put directly into Project went online pipelines that go to a drinking July 9, 2014 following water plant or distribution system. extensive testing by the Direct potable reuse may occur West Basin’s Water Reliability 2020 program is designed to shift their future water supplies to WateReuse City of Wichita Falls and with or without “engineered more locally controlled and reliable sources of water. Their Edward C. Little Water Recycling 1199 North Fairfax Street, Suite 410 the Texas Commission on storage” such as underground or Facility produces five different qualities of “designer” or custom-made recycled water that meet the Alexandria, VA 22314 Environmental Quality above ground tanks. unique needs of West Basin’s municipal, commercial and industrial customers. www.watereuse.org (TCEQ). Shown here is one of their clarifers. 4 Water Reuse Happens Naturally Multi-Barrier Water Purification Steps Case Study:

Multiple Benefits Recycled water is water that is used treatment plant intake rather than into UV/ Aquifer/ Drinking Drinking California’s Recycled Membrane Reverse Advanced more than one time before it passes the distribution system. Reservoir Water Water Water Filtration + Osmosis + Oxidation + + Treatment Supply Potable Reuse of Potable Reuse back into the natural water cycle. It is wastewater, including sewage, which has The way in which potable reused water Many states experiencing grow- DPR Awareness Effort been treated or purified to a level that is delivered determines whether it is Water Purification Process ing population and chronic water allows for reuse for beneficial purposes. called indirect potable reuse or direct Sustainable, Cost-Effective shortages continue to stretch the potable reuse. Water Supplies limits of their water supplies. Potable Reuse — Direct and Indirect But each community is different Advanced Purified Water is on the Rise: Potable reuse refers to reused water Water reuse, including potable reuse, Consideration of a range of potable and has its own unique reason that meets all federal and state drink- happens naturally all over the planet. reuse projects is very timely given the to develop new water supplies, Lessons from the Pioneers ing water standards and is safe for Water reuse hap- decline in traditional water supply including potable reuse. Here are human consumption. Potable reuse pens daily on rivers Numerous regions and states, such as Santa Clara Valley Water District, sources along with growing demand just a few: may be characterized as either indirect and other water Australia, Texas, Florida and the Pacific Silicon Valley Advanced Water and the uncertainty of climate change. Northwest, are experiencing drought Purification Center, CA — Began Safe, reliable water supply potable reuse (IPR) or direct potable bodies everywhere. reuse (DPR). In IPR, wastewater that If you live in a and lack of water supply. Using purified deliveries of advanced purified water for California’s efforts will provide Potable reuse uses proven tech- has been highly purified is introduced community down- water for drinking is not new. Projects non-potable uses in 2014. The District nology to purify recycled water information for regulators, into an environmental buffer for a stream of another, in Texas, Arizona and California, are also began conducting a potable reuse to provide a safe water source. utilities, and communities as they specified period of time before being chances are you are currently providing advanced water demonstration and piloting effort in Multiple treatment barriers withdrawn for potable purposes. The reusing its water and likewise com- purification. These projects can serve September 2014 demonstrating highly consider the implementation of separate pollutants from water. environmental buffer may be a ground- munities downstream of you are most as models for other states and munici- purified water that can be used for potable reuse. The purification process produces water aquifer or a surface water reser- likely reusing your water. This has been palities, and include: various purposes, including expanding water that is cleaner than most voir. The purpose of the environmental called “de facto” or unacknowledged/ future drinking water supplies. bottled water. For communities that have limited or buffer is to provide an additional barrier unplanned potable reuse. Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD), Big Spring TX City of San Diego, CA — The city no groundwater basins or limited res- Sustainable water supply option for the protection of public health. ervoir augmentation options, potable The amount of water on the planet — Big Spring took over a decade to began operating a one million gallon Potable reuse provides a sustain- reuse may be an additional approach to In DPR, highly purified recycled water does not change, so through nature all research, test, and determine DPR as a day Advanced Water Purification able and cost-competitive water large-scale recycled water use. is introduced with or without the use water has been used and reused since viable. In 2013 they opened the first Facility (AWPF) in 2011. The project supply option that is less energy of an engineered buffer into the raw the beginning of time. Using advanced U.S. DPR plant, capable of treating successfully evaluated how purified intensive than many alternative Potable reuse projects can be advanta- water supply feeding a water treatment technology to purify recycled water up to 2 million gallons of wastewater water could be blended with imported options. geous and feasible when: plant, or into the distribution system merely speeds up a natural process. In effluent per day to drinking water and local water supplies in San Vicente standards. Also in Texas, the City of Reservoir before going to a drinking Environmental benefits downstream of a water treatment fact, potable reuse provides a needed • Technologies to purify wastewater plant. To date, proposals have been water supply that is of higher quality Wichita Falls, 230 miles away, opened water treatment plant. The AWPF is are well established and proven Potable reuse allows us to leave to introduce DPR water into a water than what occurs naturally. their plant in June of 2014, which can open for tours and is testing addition- through existing potable reuse more water in rivers, lakes and treat up to 10 million gallons of waste- al equipment for direct potable reuse projects; streams for the fish, plants and water effluent per day. research. • they offer a cost-effective approach wildlife, while reducing discharges to diversifying a water portfolio; to these water bodies and the Building Trust is Key to Public Acceptance City of Scottsdale’s Water Campus, Advanced purified water has also been • they require less energy than other ocean. AZ — Scottsdale’s potable reuse used since the early 2000s for the sea- alternatives; and Understanding and addressing research (message testing and program purifies water for irrigation water barriers in Southern California Drought proof • they avoid potential water quality community and stakeholder concerns evaluation) with a focus on fostering purposes, preserving more drinking (Dominguez Gap Barrier and the Los issues associated with groundwater Potable reuse is a drought-proof can be a significant challenge toward awareness, education and acceptance by: water. The city operates two recycled Alamitos Barrier). and surface water sources. water supply. It can help ensure fostering acceptance for potable reuse water treatment systems with the • Identifying and clarifying health and safe, sustainable water now and projects in a community. Research ability to process over twenty mil- safety concerns; Potable reuse potentially provides into the future. activities have included gauging a lion gallons of wastewater a day, 365 communities with another viable water general understanding of perceptions • Identifying and addressing concerns days a year. Most recycled water is Responsive to weather variability supply alternative to increase water of recycled water use, identifying about reliability and the ability to distributed to 23 golf courses with supply reliability, diversify water port- Potable reuse is part of a primary concerns, and developing stop production; the remainder put through further folios, and provide maximum flexibility diversified water portfolio and educational and communication tools treatment and pumped back into the in managing water supply choices. • Developing a public outreach frame- is independent of climate or that can provide greater assurance, groundwater aquifer and recharged. weather. awareness and education. work and communication tools that Legislative Action address concerns in layperson terms Another key driver for potable reuse and in ways that can be adapted by Scottsdale’s Advanced Water Treatment Research in this area includes various Facility uses reverse osmosis (pictured), success is legislative action. California’s assessments; in-depth interviews, focus utilities for a variety of community audiences. ultrafilitration, UV and ozone to treat the groups, surveying, and communication water to exceed drinking water standards. continued on page 4... 2 3