Archive for the Reuse in the News Category
Tucson: A Model for Water Reclamation
In June of last year, Tucson demonstrated its prowess in conservation as it was able to return water to a section of the Santa Cruz River that had been arid for over 70 years. In a city that faces a myriad of water challenges, including climate and increasing population size, it has successfully navigated those challenges. Victory can be attributed to the public and private water organizations of the area who have made water conservation a top priority. Perhaps the strongest indicator of that success is that with a greater than 20 percent population increase, “Tucsonans are now using the […]
National Water Reuse Action Plan
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released the draft of the National Water Reuse Action Plan in recognition of the water shortages the country is currently confronting and is predicted to face in the future. The plan outlines the benefits of water reuse that have already been effectively demonstrated across the in agriculture, industrial cooling, ecosystem replenishment, landscape irrigation, and toilet flushing water. In short, water reuse enhances water security on a national and global level. Water reclamation, or reuse, can significantly impact the availability of water resources throughout the country and assist with threats of drought. The purpose […]
Chandler—A Model in Reclamation Planning
As cities across the country continue to experience growth, the obvious question for many is whether the existing resources, such as the water supply, are sufficient to support the growth. Many cities are growing so rapidly that they overload the available water resources. How do you support growth in locations that face water scarcity on a regular basis, like a desert? Chandler, Arizona, located in the Sonoran Desert and considered a suburb of Phoenix, has demonstrated the ability to navigate water scarcity with the power of foresight. As the city has grown, planners have considered the importance of water availability […]
L.A.’s Impressive Wastewater Goal
L.A.’s mayor, Eric Garcetti, recently outlined the city’s bold plan to recycle 100 percent of its wastewater by 2035 and subsequently reduce the amount of water presently imported. Although three out of the four wastewater facilities currently recycle 100 percent of their wastewater, the largest facility, Hyperion, which collects 81 percent of the city’s total wastewater, only recycles 27 percent. This equates to only 2 percent of the city’s water supply coming from recycled water. The mayor’s administration says that figure can reach 35 percent if the city would use the effluent that is currently dumped into the ocean to […]
Wineries, Breweries and Recycled Water
California is one step closer to making it easier for wineries and breweries in the state to have onsite use and treatment of recycled water. State Senator Scott Wiener recently proposed a bill that would create the regulations necessary for the industries to treat and reuse water onsite. According to SF Bay News, the regulations would be developed by the State Water Board in collaboration with the California Department of Public Heath’s Food and Drug Branch and “would require water quality monitoring, notification and public information requirements, and reporting annually to the CDPH.”[1] The use of water in wineries […]