WATER RECYCLING AND REUSE

Group # 13

HAMMAD ARSHAD MM-013SYED SALMAN HAIDER MM-016NIRMAL KUMAR MM-039

Water Recycling and Reuse

Recycling is a term generally applied to aluminum cans, glass bottles, and newspapers, water can be recycled as well. Water recycling is reusing treated wastewater for beneficial purposes such as agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial processes, and replenishing a ground water basin (referred to as ground water recharge).

How Can Recycled Water Benefit Us?

Recycled water can satisfy most water demands, as long as it is adequately treated to ensure water quality appropriate for the use.

What are the Environmental Benefits of Water Recycling?

Water Recycling Decreases Discharge to Sensitive Water Bodies.Recycled Water May Be Used to Create or Enhance Wetlands and Riparian (Stream) Habitats.Water Recycling Can Reduce and Prevent PollutionRecycling Water Can Save Energy

How is recycled/reclaimed water different from raw water?

The Colorado River and the Mississippi River are two common sources of raw water in the United States. Along these rivers, communities often discharge wastewater upstream from other communities that will later treat the water for drinking purposes. The water from these rivers has been reused, treated, and piped into the water supply a number of times before the last downstream user withdraws the water. Water that is perceived as raw water has often been used recently.

Does recycled/reclaimed water need to be kept separate from other water?No potable recycled water goes through a separate pipeline system to the customers. It is completely separate from the drinking water pipeline system. Periodic cross connection tests ensure that the no potable recycled water pipelines are not accidentally connected to the drinking water system. In addition, there is ongoing monitoring and testing of the no potable recycled water and drinking water systems to protect the public's health.

Who regulates water reuse?Several states consider reclaimed water viable as a water source alternative, and have developed regulations with specific water quality requirements and or treatment processes for a variety of reuse applications. In other states water reuse regulations have been developed with the primary intent of providing a disposal alternative to surface water discharge

What Is The Future Of Water Recycling?Water recycling has proven to be effective and successful in creating a new and reliable water supply without compromising public health. No potable reuse is a widely accepted practice that will continue to grow.While water recycling is a sustainable approach and can be cost-effective in the long term, the treatment of wastewater for reuse and the installation of distribution systems at centralized facilities can be initially expensive compared to such water supply alternatives as imported water, ground water, or the use of gray water onsite from homes.

Suggested Water Recycling Treatment and Uses

Increasing Levels of Treatment; Increasing Acceptable Levels of Human Exposure

Primary Treatment: Sedimentation

Secondary Treatment: Biological Oxidation, Disinfection

Tertiary / Advanced Treatment: Chemical Coagulation, Filtration, Disinfection

No uses Recommended at this level

Surface irrigation of orchards and vineyards

Non- food crop irrigation

Restricted landscape impoundments

Groundwater recharge of non-potable aquifer**

Wetlands, wildlife habitat, stream augmentation**

Industrial cooling processes**

Landscape and golf course irrigation

Toilet flushing Vehicle washing Food crop

irrigation Unrestricted

recreational impoundment

Indirect potable reuse: Groundwater recharge of potable aquifer and surface water reservoir augmentation**

* Suggested uses are based on Guidelines for Water Reuse, developed by U.S. EPA. ** Recommended level of treatment is site- specific.

Environmental benefits of water reuseWater reuse to meet the world’s water needs Felicia Marcus, former USEPA’s Regional Administrator for the dry western region of the USA, has said: “Water recycling is a critical element for managing our water resources. Through water conservation and recycling, we can meet environmental needs and still have sustainable development and a viable economy.” Tom Hannigan, CEO of California’s Department of Water Resources, has described water recycling as “the brightest star” in meeting future water needs in California. Given the water shortages which are now occurring, it is increasingly difficult to justify the old wasteful “use once and throwaway” approach which has traditionally been used by urban societies. Water conservation, reuse and recycling can greatly increase the benefits obtained from limited supplies of freshwater. This is shown in the following two diagrams in Figures 1 and 2 which show the water balance in a river basin where 50% of the average flow is used for agriculture and 25% for urban and industrial needs.

Conclusions Successful water recycling projects have been implemented in many countries. This experience has demonstrated the feasibility of water reuse on a large scale and its role in the sustainable management of the world’s water.

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