August 27, 2008
Large Desalination Plant Near San Diego Gets Final Approval
The California State Lands Commission approved the leasing of property on August 22 to a firm that plans to build the Western Hemisphere's largest desalination plant in Carlsbad, CA, according to a news release. The California Coastal Commission gave final approval of the project on August 6, ending a five year permitting process. Connecticut-based Poseidon Resources plans to begin construction in 2009 on the $300 million, 50 million gallons per day plant. The desalination facility will begin producing drinking water in 2011 and eventually provide 10% of the drinking water supply for San Diego County.
EPA Expands Studies on Pharmaceuticals in Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking several steps to build understanding of potential impacts of pharmaceuticals in water, according to a news release. The EPA is seeking comment on an Information Collection Request (ICR) that will be used in a study of unused pharmaceutical disposal methods by hospitals, long-term care facilities, and hospices. The agency is also commissioning the National Academy of Sciences to provide scientific advice on the potential risk to human health from low levels of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water. The EPA is also expanding a recent fish tissue pilot study, developing a methodology to establish water quality criteria to protect aquatic life, and conducting studies on the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in wastewater.
New Project to Provide Recycled Water to Industry in Sydney
The New South Wales, Australia government recently announced plans for a unique project that will deliver 4.3 billion liters of recycled water to industry in western Sydney, according to the Parramatta Sun. The state government signed contracts on August 20 with AquaNet Sydney and Veolia Water Australia to build and operate a treatment plant that will provide recycled water to businesses such as Bassell Australia, James Hardie, Rosehill Gardens, Visy Paper, and Marubeni Australia Power Services. The $100 million project will take Sydney a step closer to the goal of recycling 70 billion liters of water a year by 2015.
New Recycled Water Project Begins Operating in Northern California
A new recycled water project funded with local, state, and federal resources began operating in northern California on August 11, according to the Contra Costa Times. The $7.2 million project will irrigate a golf course and city landscaping in Pittsburgh, CA. In May, President George W. Bush signed a bill into law that earmarked $9 million in federal funds for drought-relief in the San Francisco Bay Area. This project was funded with $3.2 million from Pittsburgh, $2.3 million in state and regional grants, and $1.7 million from the federal government.
Forth Worth Considers Expansion of Water Recycling System
The City of Fort Worth, TX is considering a $1.8 million plan that would double the city's recycled water system, the Star-Telegram reported. Forth Worth has provided recycled water to a golf course near the treatment plant for about a decade, but the new plan would add nine miles of purple pipe and could eventually provide 10 million gallons of recycled water each day. The state water plan calls for North Texas to meet 26% of its water needs through recycling.
Coastal Commission Approves Monterey Desalination Plant
The California Coastal Commission approved the construction of a new desalination plant on August 7 in Monterey, CA, according to The Mercury News. The plant will provide 25,000 gallons of water each day for a new oceanside development proposed near Cannery Row, an historic area of Monterey. The desalination plant will be part of a 92,000 square foot complex that will also include a history museum.
WateReuse will Convene Two Unique Specialty Conferences this Fall
The Association will present two specialty conferences this fall designed to help water professionals advance the beneficial and efficient use of water resources. WateReuse is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to present a conference with the theme of Water Reuse in Agriculture on October 26-28 at the Monterey Plaza Hotel in downtown Monterey, CA. The conference will explore the beneficial use of recycled water to meet agricultural needs.
WateReuse also is partnering with the International Water Association to present Potable Reuse for Water Supply Sustainability: Critical Today — Essential Tomorrow to be held November 16-19 at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach, CA. The program will include speakers from around the world who will discuss the challenges and successes involved in projects that aim to augment drinking water supplies with recycled water.
Florida Community Battles over Reclaimed Water
Officials in Port Orange, FL are resisting new rules on reclaimed water proposed by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), which is the regional regulatory agency, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Port Orange produces 12 million gallons of reclaimed water per day and pipes much of it to residential neighborhoods for lawn irrigation. SJRWMD proposes limiting residents to lawn watering once per week from November to March and twice per week the rest of the year. Currently, local officials allow watering three times per week all year long. The Port Orange City Council voted to oppose SJRWMD's proposal and plan a public hearing in November and a vote in December on the plan.
New Mexico Community Introduces Innovative Potable Reuse Project
The small community of Cloudcroft, NM recently introduced an innovative indirect potable reuse system that recycles a 100% of the water used in the village, according to Government Engineering. The town of 1,000 residents—which relies heavily on tourism with a ski hill, golf course, and multiple summer events—previously trucked in 20,000 gallons of water each day during the tourism season. The treatment process for the new recycled water begins with a membrane bioreactor. After the initial treatment, about 10% of the water is siphoned off for irrigation. The remainder of the water is treated with reverse osmosis, mixed with spring and well water, and then treated with ultrafiltration and chlorine before being sent back into the potable water supply.
Community Outreach Book Wins International Award
An Association publication will be presented with the Best Popular Presentation of Water Science award from the International Water Association during a banquet in Vienna, Austria on September 10. From Waste-d Water to Pure Water: A Simple Water Quality Rating System by Jenifer Simpson is a community education tool designed to enable lay people to take an unprejudiced and informed view of recycled or reclaimed water, how it is made, its quality, and types of uses. The book was originally self-published by Ms. Simpson in her native Australia. For more information on publications available from the Association, click here.
Virginia Governor Approves Water Reuse Regulations
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine recently approved the state's first water reclamation and reuse regulation. The regulation is scheduled to be published in the Virginia Register on September 1 and is expected to become effective October 1. The program will allow water from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities to be reused to conserve water supplies and reduce the discharge of wastewater to rivers and streams. For more information about the program, click here.
Foundation Releases New Research Products
The WateReuse Foundation recently released three new research reports and an interactive CD-ROM. The new products are as follows:
- Impacts of Membrane Process Residuals on Wastewater Treatment;
- Regional Solutions to Concentrate Management;
- Survey of High-Recovery and Zero Liquid Discharge Technologies for Water Utilities; and
- Salinity Management Guide (CD-ROM)
For more information on these new resources, click here.
State Government in India Plans for Water Recycling
One of India's largest states recently announced plans to release a recycled water policy in an effort to combat growing water shortages, according to The Times of India. Officials in Maharashtra, which includes Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay), want communities to reuse at least 10% of their water. Government officials plan to target construction sites, manufacturing industries, and power plants to be among the first customers for the recycled water.