Equinox Center Study Shows Treated Wastewater Safe To Drink
SAN DIEGO — When it comes to the prospect of turning wastewater into drinking water, a new report from the non-partisan research group Equinox Center shows it could be safer than most would think.
“Purified, recycled water is safer to drink than what we are drinking today,” said Aaron Contorer of the Equinox Center. “A significant portion of our water today is extracted from wastewater upstream.”
The Equinox Center’s report reveals a map of some 350 sewage plants that discharge wastewater into the waterways the country draws its water from before it is treated locally.
Essentially, the report shows everyone routinely drinks recycled wastewater.
Las Vegas already recycles its wastewater to drink, and that drinking water also ends up in the San Diego water supply.
“All the tests have shown purified, recycled water is safe and clean,” said Contorer. “According to our research, it’s safer, cleaner, more reliable and uses less energy than other water sources.”
The Equinox Center’s report comes days ahead of a critical vote, when the San Diego City Council will vote on a construction contract for an $11.8 million wastewater recycling pilot project.
It is a first step that could lead to recycled water in San Diego faucets if it is deemed successful.
Other areas that have wastewater-to-tap programs included Long Beach, Orange County, Reno and the country of Singapore.
Three New Customers Will Help the Department Save 6.5 Million Gallons of Water per Year
LOS ANGELES — Furthering its commitment to expand local water supplies and reduce the City’s dependence on imported water, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has successfully expanded its network of recycled water pipes to deliver treated reclaimed water to the newest customers in the San Fernando Valley: two local churches and the LADWP Power System, who will use recycled water for outdoor irrigation. These new customers will reduce the need for using drinking water for non-potable purposes by 20 acre feet per year (AFY) or 6.5 million gallons.
Photo: LA Team Effort
The keyword is “We”… the collaboration between the Mar Vista community and LA Stormwater set the bar for what is possible when the community gives up the ‘why don’t they…’ attitude and works with the city towards a greener LA! Read more
Japanese Garden on the campus of the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant. (d.j.k./flickr)
It is known simply as the Japanese Garden. But to those familiar with this 6 1/2 -acre oasis, tucked away in the middle of bustling Van Nuys, it is affectionately referred to as “Gene’s Garden.”
Link to full article in LA Times
If water is the next battleground for a globe facing dwindling water resources, then this 1960s-style community center at the northern end of Los Angeles’s Koreatown is at the forefront of the fight.
Recycled Water: What Goes Around… Comes Around
Attendees for this one-day workshop will gain a better understanding of recycled water issues and trends, upcoming regulations in California, and key factors for successful implementation of water recycling programs.
Northern California:
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Bay Café Clubhouse and Restaurant
1875 Embarcadero Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Paul Friedlander, Carollo Engineers, Moderator
Southern California:
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
1955 Workman Mill Rd
Whittier, CA 90601
Phil Ackman, LACSD, Moderator
Featured speakers:
- Fran Spivy-Weber, SWQCB
- Heather Collins, CDPH
- Andrew Salveson, Carollo Engineers
- Rich Nagel, West Basin MWD
- Shivaji Deshmukh, OCWD
- George Tchobanoglous, UC Davis
Earn up to 6.2 CWEA and/or Calif. Dept of Health Contact Hours!
The project is being developed through a partnership between the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, and several other water agencies that do not include the Central Basin Municipal Water District.
There was a water main break Monday morning in an 8″ pipeline connection to a larger 54″ line sending a tall geyser rising into the air. Some reporters quickly dubbed it “Old Faithful of the Valley.” The LADWP quickly closed off the line.
The agency describes it as a purple pipe carrying recycled water. The water is required to meet California Title 22 water quality standards for health and safety but is not used for drinking water. No one was hurt.
It’s likely the recycled water is from the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant just across the 405-freeway. The facility recycles roughly 26-million gallons every day.
A Long Beach wastewater recycling project will receive Federal funding as part of legislation the Senate passed last week. The 2010 fiscal year Energy and Water Appropriations Conference Report includes $634,000 for the project.
“We will also be able to continue to expand the city’s use of recycled water, which reduces our consumption of potable water, and makes Long Beach less dependent on outside sources of water, which as everyone knows are becoming more and more unreliable.” Matthew Veeh, LB Water spokesman.
Speakers Tim Haug, Deputy City Engineer for Los Angeles and Rich Atwater General Manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency.
By Wendy Wert
LABS Director
CWEA Chair, Training Coordination
On September 24, 2009 the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE) hosted a dinner and networking seminar at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). Participants were enlightened, inspired, and entertained. The “Sustainable Wastewater Operations” topic drew attendees from a broad spectrum of the environmental profession, including: professors, researchers, managers, practitioners, technicians, advocates, manufacturers, vendors and students. The evening began with a stimulating networking session on the breezeway of LMU’s University Center. Participants then dined in the MacIntosh Room where they engaged in discussions of resource recovery alternatives from individual experiences. In addition to the sponsored students, two LMU engineering classes joined attendees in the Ahmanson Auditorium for the presentation portion of the event.
