Chemistry 4-1

Everyone knows that water is one of the most important resources we have; no living thing can survive without water. H2O is a non-renewable resource; unless we all convert to reusing and recycling water.

WAT3R
The word recycling usually applies to things such as: paper, plastic, glass and aluminum cans. People dont really think of reusing water, but it can be recycled as well. Recycled water is water that has been used and is called wastewater. Wastewater takes on a treatment to clean out all the waste and harmful substances that we cant drink. Then the water is reused and is beneficial for the earth and us. The process of recycling water saves a lot of energy, by not having to travel from place to place. o lets say we get goods imported from !hina, and they arrive on the west coast of !alifornia and those goods are going to be sold in eastern states. There is a point where the shipping cost because more e"pensive than what is actually being transported. This is called break bulk. We can also break bulk for the e"ample of transporting water. #y recycling water in their own regions of the country we cut down on energy and transportation cost. $range !ountys reclaimed water costs %&.'( per thousand gallons when regional water subsidies are factored in. This is similar to what it pays to import either !olorado River water or water from )orthern !alifornia. Without the benefit of subsidies, reclaimed waters cost was *ust &+ percent less than desalinated waters, which e"perts say re,uires - to &( times the energy output. i .n response, to adding dependable water resources and locally controlled water supply, recycling water gives enormous environmental advantages. .t eliminates some demands on water and provides the world with more usable /0$. $ne of the big problems in getting people to reuse there own water is, them not wanting to reuse something that they deposited waste in. !arol )emeroff, a psychologist at the 1niversity of outhern 2aine, said the notion of treated sewage 3hooks into the intuitive concept of contagion4 and contamination. To overcome this, she said, a city must 3unhook the current water from its history.4 That proved to be the case in &55' in an 6iego when the water departments initiative was derided as 3toilet to tap4 during a bruising !ity !ouncil campaign.ii .f . had the option of choosing to recycle my water, . would. There are only pros, if the treatment is handled correctly. The fact that it helps me save money and also helps the environment, today and in the long run, couldnt be more of a reason not to do so. 7ven though it might come from my own waste, at the end of the treatment process it *ust the same water . started out with.

i As Yuck Factor Subsides, Treated Wastewater Flows From Taps Published: February 9, !"

by 8elictiy #arrinnger

ii 9s :;uck 8actor ubsides, Treated Wastewater 8lows 8rom Taps Published: 8ebruary 5, 0(&0

by 8elictiy #arrinnger