Water Reuse Study E-Update - January 2006
The Water Reuse Study team has created this "E-Update" to keep you up-to-date on Study activities and provide news about the recycled water industry. Each issue will be posted on this website. We are sending e-mail announcements of new issues to persons who have expressed an interest in the Study. If you did not receive an e-mail announcement and would like to, please join our news group. If you did receive an announcement about this issue, you are automatically in the news group.
If you are new to the Water Reuse Study, the Study Overview will provide helpful background information. The Frequently Asked Questions section contains additional material that may also be of interest.
On January 12, members of the San Diego/Tijuana Border Liaison Mechanism group held their January meeting at the North City Water Reclamation Plant. The group also toured the plant and visited the Advanced Water Treatment (AWT) testing facility, receiving an orientation to the AWT process from City staff. The visitors from Mexico were especially interested in the ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis filtration steps and expressed appreciation that San Diego was taking a lead in evaluating all options for recycled water use. The group also noted a common interest in water scarcity and a desire to utilize all available water supplies.
The Border Liaison Mechanism group was established by the federal governments of the United States and Mexico through their respective State Departments in order to have a diplomatic forum to discuss issues of mutual concern to communities along the border. The City of San Diego invited the group to hold their January meeting at the reclamation plant. Meeting attendees included representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, International Boundary Water Commission, San Diego State University and the City of San Diego.
At its meeting on January 5, the Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority (JPA) voted to send a letter of support to the City for the Water Reuse Study. The JPA board also urged their member agencies to send their own letters of support for the Study. This endorsement is the latest show of support for the City´s efforts to evaluate all options for the increased use of recycled water to make the most of the region´s limited water supply.
The JPA also noted that media coverage of recycled water often ignores the fact that Colorado River water, which is imported into San Diego, contains discharges from cities and communities along the river before it enters an aqueduct into southern California.
The National Water Research Institute (NWRI) recently issued a letter to the City of San Diego summarizing the findings of the Independent Advisory Panel (IAP) on the Water Reuse Study. The IAP Summary Findings recognized that the Water Reuse Study has been conducted in a transparent manner with many opportunities for public involvement.
The panel also found that the Study has been conducted in a scientific manner, utilizing the review of scientific literature and research studies to answer critical questions about the appropriate treatment technologies. The panel came to the unanimous conclusion that appropriate alternatives for increasing the use of recycled water have been identified, and that the Study presents them in a clear and thorough manner so that the City can make informed choices about water reuse.
Note: The following items are excerpted courtesy of the WateReuse Association´s December 14, 2005 and January 18, 2006, "Water Reuse News." For more information on the Association, please visit www.watereuse.org
On December 15, 2005, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced a companion bill (S.2106) to House approved HR 177, which if enacted, will increase southern California´s water supply by 65.2 billion gallons annually. One project that could receive $51.8 million in continued federal support is the Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System, which will be the nation´s largest indirect potable reuse project. The Washington State Department of Ecology is expected to approve a permit allowing the LOTT Alliance (Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Thurston Counties) to use reclaimed water from a new treatment plant after the public comment period ends February 8, 2006. This will be LOTT´s second water reclamation plant, giving it a total supply of 3 million gallons per day and make it the largest producer of recycled water in the state. Source: "The Olympian." A new $26 million water recycling plant will be built in Watsonville, California, as an alternative to groundwater utilized by coastal wells. The groundwater is being contaminated by saltwater intrusion from the Pacific Ocean. The recycled water will be distributed through a separate delivery system and used for crop irrigation once the plant is completed in 2007.
Source: "Santa Cruz Sentinel" Over the next five years, at least two indirect potable reuse projects are expected to be launched in Colorado. A $26 million project of the Arapahoe County and Wastewater Authority and the Cottonwood Water and Sanitation District, will be the state´s first indirect potable reuse project, supplying 1,000 acre feet of water. A $700 million project in Aurora will supply 10,000 acre feet, and is expected to be completed by 2010. Aurora has been conducting taste tests and found its recycled water surpassed a popular brand of bottled water. Source: The Pueblo Chieftain
News Articles of Interest - a chronological compilation with links to articles, materials and information about recycled water and related topics. Recent additions include:
Be sure to visit these and other areas of our website
- Speakers Bureau information - how to contact the Study team for a presentation, a list of completed presentations, and a downloadable flyer on the Speakers Bureau.
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