May 16, 2007
Federal Bill Could Expand Recycled Water Use in Southern California
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on May 7 to authorize $12 million in federal funding to help construct a water pressurization system to help expand the use of recycled water in Riverside County, CA, according to a news release. “The area that the Eastern Municipal Water District provides water for is one of the fastest growing in the country,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), who introduced the legislation. “It is critical that Congress supports projects like this that will lead to an increased use of reclaimed water, especially in areas such as Southern California where the threat of shortages and drought are almost always present.” The Bureau of Reclamation estimates that the project will cost $48 million and it expects the project to take 10 to 15 years to build. The federal funding would cover up to 25% of the cost. H.R. 30 now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Drought Reduces Watering in Florida Communities
With more than 80% of Florida experiencing moderate or severe drought conditions, officials at Pinellas County Utilities asked some customers to implement a voluntary reduction in usage of reclaimed water on May 4, according to Tampa Bay Newspapers. Most of the customers in the affected area are residential users who use reclaimed water to maintain dry lawns and wilting flowers. The Southwest Florida Water Management District declared a modified Phase II Severe Water Shortage in January, which already restricts lawn watering to one-day-per-week. In another part of the state, officials in Volusia County announced on May 3 that about 1,000 homes would need to limit reclaimed water use to four days per week, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Residents in Palm Beach and Broward counties are limited to one day a week sprinkling with potable water beginning May 16 but can continue to use reclaimed water as needed, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Mobile Desalination Facility Launched in Hawaii
A new mobile desalination facility recently began operating off the coast of Hawaii, KGMB 9 reported. The 144-foot Spirit of the North – once used for Alaskan crab fishing – has been converted to a tool that that can harvest 240,000 gallons of seawater each day. A hose drops thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface to tap into less polluted water. The water is treated through reverse osmosis to remove salt and minerals. Up to 80,000 gallons of drinking water will be stored in the bladders on the barge. The leftover salty concentrate will be discharged into the ocean.
Tallahassee, FL Breaks Ground on New Reuse Facility
Officials in Tallahassee, FL broke ground on a $4.4 million water reuse facility on April 30 that will provide 1.2 million gallons of reclaimed water each day, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. The initial customers for Tallahassee’s first reclaimed water are likely to include golf courses and athletic fields. The new plant, which will take about a year to build, is part of more than $160 million in planned improvements to the city’s water operations.
Conference Brochure Available for Annual WateReuse Symposium
The preliminary conference brochure is available for the 22nd Annual WateReuse Symposium to be held September 9-12, 2007 at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina in Tampa, FL. The Symposium is the world’s preeminent conference devoted to water reuse and desalination. Presented by the WateReuse Association and co-sponsored by the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation, the Symposium will feature more than 120 technical presentations, four technical tours, the popular User Issues Forum and Regulatory Forum, a national legislative outlook session, receptions, and awards luncheon, and the ever popular exhibition component.
Recycled Water to Recharge California Lake
Recycled water will begin flowing into Southern California’s Lake Elsinore in early June to stabilize the lake’s water levels, according to the Press-Enterprise. The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District spent $4.5 million to build a pipeline that will carry about 4.5 million gallons of recycled water to the lake each day. The popular recreational lake is used for fishing, sailing, and water skiing, but water levels are dropping by about 4.5 feet per year due to evaporation.
Newsletter Discusses Water Reuse in New Jersey
With available fresh water supplies on the decline and demand increasing overall, the New Jersey Water Resources Research Institute included a series of articles on water reuse in its spring newsletter. Officials in New Jersey began considering water reuse options after droughts in 1999 and 2002 left the state facing severe shortage problems. The Spring 2007 issue of New Jersey Flows includes articles on state regulations, impact studies, and a groundwater replenishment project. To view the newsletter, click here.
First Brine Concentrator System for RO Plant and ZLD Facility Planned
The Deuel Vocational Institute in Tracy, CA will be the site of the world’s first brine concentrator as a key component of a reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water plant at a zero liquid discharge facility, according to a news release. The new system, to be supplied by HPD, will use evaporation technology to treat 250 gpm of reject from the groundwater RO system, which is designed to deliver drinking water. The brine concentrator will reduce the subsequent effluent stream volume by 97% and recycle high-quality drinking water back to the facility. The remaining 3% of the stream is composed of highly concentrated brine that will be sent to a small, onsite evaporation pond to achieve zero liquid discharge.
Advance Registration for Research Conference Ends May 21
Advance registration for the WateReuse Foundation’s 11th Annual Water Reuse Research Conference ends May 21. The conference will be held June 4-5 at the El Paso Marriott in El Paso, TX. The Foundation's Research Conference provides an opportunity for the water reuse and desalination communities to hear and see presentations by researchers on the latest results of ongoing research. The program provides a focused and unique opportunity for water reuse and desalination professionals to learn about new developments and trends emerging from current and ongoing research on innovative technologies, applications, and projects. The two-day event will conclude with a hard hat tour of the new inland desalination facility in El Paso.
Alcatraz Considers Water Reuse, Desalination
Alcatraz Island, once home to an infamous federal penitentiary, is considering water reuse and desalination projects to support growing tourism, the San Jose Mercury News reported. Currently, drinking water is shipped to the island in five gallon jugs and wastewater is hauled away. Officials have begun to study the possibility of a small desalination plant that could be powered by micro-wind turbines. Another idea under consideration would involve designing a water reuse system that would use the island’s existing water cisterns, which can store hundreds of thousands of gallons of rainwater and purified wastewater.
Arizona Golf Courses Benefit from UV Technology
Two golf courses in Anthem, AZ, are benefiting from irrigation by UV treated recycled water, according to a news release. Founded less than 10 years ago, Anthem, a town just north of Phoenix, now has a population of over 40,000. As part of its rapid expansion, the town recently installed UV disinfection technology to ensure that its water and recycled water is as clean as possible. The closed chamber, medium pressure UV systems allow the town to not only meet increased demands in its water and wastewater treatment capacity, but also to exceed the output quality standards. The two golf courses are using a combination of UV treated recycled water and fresh river water for irrigation. With the increase in population, it is expected that the courses will soon be using recycled water exclusively.
Western Australia plans to Recycle 30% of Water
The Western Australia State Water Plan 2007 set a goal of recycling 30% of wastewater by 2030, according to WA Business News. “We are investigating new source options, but we must also pay particular attention to recycling as an environmentally sound, cost effective option,” Water Resources Minister John Kobelke said when the plan was released on May 8. While the community has cut back its consumption, population is expected to increase 40% by 2030. The state had previously set a goal of recycling 20% of wastewater by 2012. The Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter also announced plans to build a second desalination plant by 2011, which is expected to cost $640 million and provide at least 45 gigaliters of water each year, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
2006 WateReuse Foundation Annual Report Highlights Achievements
In 2006, the WateReuse Foundation formed and strengthened research alliances around the globe, performed significant applied research, and experienced substantial growth. These and other important achievements are highlighted in the 2006 Annual Report, which is now available on the Foundation’s website. The Foundation also welcomed 14 new Subscribers and awarded a record $483,000 in research funding to Subscribers through the Tailored Collaboration program.
Association Accepting Nominations for WateReuse Awards
The WateReuse Association is accepting award nominations for the 2007 WateReuse Awards. The awards will be presented during the 22nd Annual WateReuse Symposium to be held September 9-12, 2007 at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina. The awards will recognize innovative water reuse projects, institutions, customers, education programs, and individuals who have made significant contributions to the industry.