November 4, 2008
Conference Focuses on Water Reuse in Agriculture
The WateReuse Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture convened a successful conference with the theme Water Reuse in Agriculture: Ensuring Food Safety on October 26-28 in Monterey, CA. The conference opened with a Sunday tour of some of the world's most productive and expensive farm land where growers use recycled water grow artichokes, lettuce, strawberries, and other food crops. The tour was followed by two days of sessions featuring experts from the water industry, agriculture, government, and academia. The topics covered included regulations, health issues, economics, public perception, and the federal government's role in water management.
Some of the prominent speakers on the program included California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi; A. G. Kawamura, the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; Colien Hefferan of USDA-CSREES; Monterey Mayor Chuck Della Sala; and Chris Savage of the Wine Institute. Secretary Kawamura emphasized how important the safe use of recycled water on agriculture has been for his state. "California has a $37 billion food industry with 400 different crops. People have to trust the science," he said.
For information on future WateReuse conferences, click here.
State of Texas Contributes to Desalination Research Facility
Texas Governor Rick Perry announced on October 23 that the state will invest $2 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) to create the Center for Inland Desalination Systems at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), according to a news release. The facility will research ways to capture and recycle the byproduct of the desalination process; develop small-scale portable desalination equipment for use in remote locations; and develop processes that can reduce energy and water use during desalination. UTEP is partnering with El Paso Water Utilities and the U.S. Army to develop the center and implement current desalination technology. The TETF investment will be matched with $2 million from UTEP and The University of Texas System. UTEP also will raise another $2 million in sponsored research from industry partners, to bring the total funding to $6 million.
Australia Prepares to Launch First Potable Reuse Project
In February 2009, the Queensland Water Commission will begin piping purified recycled water into the Wivenhoe Dam, which supplies drinking water to Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, and other areas in southeast Queensland, according to The Australian. The Western Corridor Recycled Water Project is Australia's first indirect potable reuse project and initially will pump about 60 megaliters (15.8 mgd) of recycled water into the dam. The volume of recycled water will rise to about 230 megaliters per day (60 mgd) over the next year. The project, which is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, will also supply recycled water to the Swanbank and Tarong North power stations.
Tampa to Extend Reclaimed Water System to Airport
The City of Tampa, FL recently met its first milestone in an ongoing effort to supply reclaimed water to big users, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio signed a contract with the Hillsborough Aviation Authority, which will provide up to $950,000 to extend the reclaimed water system to Tampa International Airport. City officials are also targeting other big users to become reclaimed water customers, including a community college and athletic fields.
New Water Recycling Project to Target Farmers
A new $65 million water recycling system that will provide farmers in Watsonville, CA with 1.7 billion gallons of water each growing season is expected to begin operating in December, according to the Pajoronian. The City is partnering with the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency to provide 4,000 acre-feet of recycled water to farmers via a coastal distribution system. The community currently treats 6.5 million gallons of wastewater each day and discharges it to the ocean. When the new water recycling system goes online, all of that water will be recycled and provided to farmers during the growing season.
GE Partners with Canadian Province to Improve Water Use at Oilsands
GE Water & Process Technologies and the Alberta, Canada government recently announced a $15 million project to improve water reuse and treatment for the province's oilsands projects, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Water is used to extract and treat bitumen, a very thick oil found in oilsands. It can take as many as 4.5 barrels of fresh water to produce one barrel of oil. GE will work with several technologies, including thermal evaporation systems, mobile filtration units, and water treatment chemistry to help create efficiency in the process.
New Water Reuse Project Approved in West Texas
The Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD) and the City of Big Spring, TX recently announced plans to build a new reclaimed water facility, according to CBS 7. With West Texas facing dwindling water supplies, the project will provide a new source of water for the community at a cost of about $2.25 per thousand gallons. CRMWD serves Odessa, Midland, Big Spring and Snyder.
States Negotiate Reopening Yuma Desalination Plant
Arizona, Nevada, and California are negotiating an agreement to share the cost to restart a dormant desalination plant in Yuma, AZ, according to the Arizona Republic. Under the plan, the three states would operate the plant for one year, share the $23 million cost, and divide the water in amounts proportionate to each state's financial contribution. The desalination plant is owned by the Bureau of Reclamation and was opened in 1992 to reduce the salinity of water in the Colorado River. A series of wet winters diluted the water naturally and the plant was shut down until Reclamation ran a 90 day test at 10% capacity in 2007. The proposed one year pilot would begin running in summer 2009 at about 30% capacity.
Reclaimed Water Project Planned for Southern New Jersey
The Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority, located in southern New Jersey, recently signed an agreement to build a new reclaimed water plant, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal. The project will include the necessary infrastructure to divert 300,000 gallons per day of secondary effluent to a new tertiary treatment train, and pump the high quality reclaimed water into a distribution pipeline to irrigate a recreational complex, zoo, community college, and surrounding areas. The project is expected to decrease annual groundwater extractions by about 50 million gallons. The project is being built by Applied Water Management Group, a subsidiary of American Water.
Snowmaking with Reclaimed Water Temporarily Blocked at Arizona Resort
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals granted a petition on October 3 to block construction of a system to make snow using reclaimed water at the Arizona Snowbowl, according to the Arizona Daily Sun. The petition blocks construction through mid-December pending further appeals. Snowmaking opponents, which include 13 Native American tribes who consider the mountains sacred, plan to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is expected to decide in the winter or spring if it will hear the case. The resort announced that it would not add snowmaking equipment or new lifts before next spring.
Sydney Water Targets Industrial Customers with New Project
The Sydney Water Corporation recently signed an agreement to build the first recycled water network for multiple industrial users in Australia, according to a news release. The project will produce an annual 4.3 billion liters of highly treated water for major industrial customers. The plant will be designed to cope with any future higher demand and will be able to produce an extra three billion liters of recycled water per year for other industrial requirements. The first stage of construction is scheduled to begin in early 2009.
Barcelona Desalination Plant to Double Capacity
A seawater desalination plant near Barcelona, Spain plans to double its capacity to about 14.5 million gallons per day to meet increased water supply needs, according to a news release. In the past few years, Barcelona and surrounding areas have been suffering from drought conditions which put restrictions on the usage of water for swimming pools, fountains and lawns. Earlier this year, the Catalonian region was importing drinking water by barge due to the severity of the situation. Although rains inundated the region recently, government utilities are investing in expanding existing capacity and building new capacity to provide reliable, secure water resources for the future.
WateReuse Accepting Abstracts for 2009 Conferences
The WateReuse Foundation is accepting abstracts for the 13th Annual Water Reuse & Desalination Research Conference. To be considered for a technical presentation, submit an abstract by December 15, 2008. Abstracts must be 200 words or less and include the title, author(s), and subject. For complete instructions, click here.
The WateReuse Association is accepting abstracts for the 24th Annual WateReuse Symposium-the world's preeminent conference devoted to sustaining water supplies through water reuse and desalination. To be considered for a technical presentation, submit an abstract by January 22, 2009. Abstracts must be one page or less and include the title, author(s), and up to three subject areas. Individual speakers and organizations may submit proposals for a single presentation or a complete session. For complete instructions, click here.
California Approves Ozone Technology for Disinfection
The California Department of Public Health has for the first time accepted an ozone-based technology to meet disinfection criteria for unrestricted water reuse under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, according to a news release. The pre-packaged treatment system uses a plug flow reactor that injects and mixes ozone or ozone and hydrogen peroxide. Known as the HiPOx® process, the system is marketed by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. The system can operate in either the ozone-only mode or AOP mode.
KISR Seeks Research Scientist
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) has an immediate open position for a senior research scientist interested in wastewater issues-especially those related to water recycling and reuse. Candidates should contact directly Dr. Yusef Al Wazzan at ywazzan@safat.kisr.edu.kw.