Wastewater Reuse:

Selected Applications

Wastewater Plant
Standards
Some states have guidelines,
some have regulations
Washington has guidelines

EPA Suggested Guidelines

pH = 6-9
BOD5 10 mg/L
Turb. 2 NTU
E. coli = NONE
Res. Cl2 1 mg/L

EPA Guidelines
Urban Reuse
Restricted-Access-Area Irrigation
Agriculture
Reuse
Disinfected, Tertiary
Recreational Impoundments
Treated
Effluent
can
Landscape
Impoundments
be used Uses
in all of these
Construction
IndustrialApplications
Reuse
Groundwater Recharge
Indirect Potable Reuse

Secondary Effluent

Complete Treatment

Expensive!!!!
Filter can be several units
Chemical Addition depends on SE

Direct Filtration
Chemical
Addition

SE

Effluent
Coagulation

Flocculation

Filtration

No clarification reduces solids production

SE should be less than 10 NTU
Filtration step may have several units

Contact Filtration
Optional
GAC
Adsorption

Chemical
Addition

SE

Coagulation

Filtration

Effluent

No Floc Step, No Clarifier

Relies on in-line coagulation
Can produce equivalent virus kill with disinfection

How Effective?
After secondary
with BNR plus
disinfection

After secondary
with BNR plus
depth filtration
and disinfection

After secondary
with BNR plus
microfiltration, RO
and disinfection

TSS

5-20

1-4

BOD

5-20

1-5

0-2

TN

2-12

2-12

NO3

1-10

1-10

0.1-0.5

0.1-0.5

0.5

Turbidity

2-6

0.1 -1

Bacteria

2.2-240

2.2

5-10

100-10000

.0001

Constituent

Phosphorus

Protozoan
Viruses

Agricultural Reuse of
Wastewater
One of the most significant uses of
reclaimed wastewater
Water needed for irrigation in some
states accounts for >80% of demand
Regulations and guidelines vary
widely from state to state
Guidelines for food crop use (21
states) and non-food crop use (40
states)

Benefits of Agricultural
Reuse
High concentrations of nutrients
May eliminate need for fertilizer
Long-term soil enrichment
Decreases demand on potable water
supply
Additional treatment in soil
Water not discharged to receiving
waters

Disadvantages of
Agricultural Reuse
Health risk from associated pathogens
Health risk from other contaminants
(e.g. metals, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals)
Decrease in soil quality from
accumulation of metals and
acidification
Infiltration of groundwater

Agricultural Reuse in
Washington
Foods consumed raw
surface irrigation: water requires oxidation
and disinfection with mean total coliforms
< 2.2/100 ml
spray irrigation: water requires oxidation,
coagulation, filtration, disinfection and total
coliforms < 2.2/100ml

Processed foods
only oxidation and disinfection, regardless
of irrigation type, and a 7-day mean total
coliforms < 240/100 ml

Urban Wastewater Reuse

What is recycled urban wastewater or
reclaimed water?
Urban wastewater that has undergone
additional treatment following secondary
treatment in order to be reused rather than
discharged into the environment

Can reduce strain on potable water

supply

Urban Wastewater Reuse

What can urban reclaimed water be used
for?
Irrigation - public parks, schools, road medians,
any landscaped areas, golf courses
Commercial - vehicle washing facilities, laundry
facilities, window washing, mixing pesticides
and herbicides
Construction - dust control, concrete production
Toilet and urinal flushing
Fire protection
Drinking water?? in Australia, not yet in the
U.S.

Urban Wastewater Reuse

A reclaimed water system
consists of:
Water reclamation facility provides treatment in addition to
secondary treatment
Distribution system - includes
pipelines, storage facilities,
pumping facilities

Urban Wastewater Reuse

Reclaimed water distribution system is
a dual distribution system
Network of pipes to deliver
reclaimed water to the public
Run separate but parallel to potable
water pipelines
Potential problem????

CROSS CONNECTIONS!!!

Urban Wastewater Reuse

Major considerations are public
health and reliability of the system
Water must be of acceptable quality
for intended uses
System must be maintained and
operated properly
Reclaimed water pipes must be
clearly marked

Urban Wastewater Reuse

Retrofitting reclaimed water
system in existing cities can be
expensive
BUT can be cost-effective if:
Water supply is of poor quality
Water supply does not meet demand
Advanced wastewater treatment
already required

Urban Wastewater Reuse

St. Petersburg, FL
Using reclaimed water system since 1977
Provides for residential & commerical
properties, baseball stadium, schools

San Diego, CA
Ponoma, CA
Serves CA Polytechnic Institute, paper mills

Austin, TX
Tucson, AZ

Urban Wastewater Reuse

In the news
California county turns to sewer water to
increase drinking supplies
International Herald Tribune, Nov. 27, 2007
On Friday, the Orange County Water District will turn on

what industry experts say is the world's largest plant

devoted to purifying sewer water to increase drinking water
supplies. They and others hope it serves as a model for
authorities worldwide facing persistent drought, predicted
water shortages and projected growth.

San Jose-area water officials announced a study of the issue

in September, water managers in southern Florida approved
a plan last week calling for abundant use of recycled
wastewater in the coming years in part to help restock
drinking water supplies, and planners in Texas are giving it
serious consideration.

Residential Wastewater
Reuse
Why reuse wastewater at home?
Conserve precious drinking water supply
Droughts
Arid climates
Overuse or population overwhelming supply

Save money
Reduce environmental impact associated
with wastewater treatment & disposal

Residential Wastewater
Reuse
Greywater:
Wastewater from sinks, bathtubs,
showers, dish washer, laundry (anything
except toilets)
May contain pathogens, likely to contain
other microbes, detergents, FOGs, bleach,
hair, food particles, suspended solids
Not for potable reuse unless tertiary
treatment

Residential Wastewater
Reuse
Simple home water reuse:
Collect warming tap water in bucket
Hose from sink drain to outdoors
planter box

More complex home water reuse:

Divert greywater to underground
lawn/garden irrigation system
Commercial treatment & reuse systems

Residential Wastewater
Commercially availableReuse
greywater treatment & recycling

Residential Wastewater
Commercially availableReuse
greywater treatment & recycling

Residential Wastewater
Reuse

Custom designed system in Sydney, Australia

Residential Wastewater
Reuse

Healthy Home System in Toronto, Canada

Groundwater Recharge
Califor
nia

Source: US EPA. Guidelines for water

Florida

Groundwater Recharge Purposes

establish saltwater intrusion barriers
provide further treatment for future
reuse
increase potable or nonpotable aquifers
provide storage of reclaimed water for
subsequent retrieval and reuse
control or prevent ground subsidence

Groundwater Recharge Advantages

Less cost than equivalent surface water
reservoirs
The aquifer serves as an eventual
natural distribution system
No evaporation, taste and odor
problems occurred in surface reservoirs
Suitable sites for surface water
reservoirs may not be available or
environmentally acceptable

Groundwater Recharge
Limitations (1)
Extensive land areas may be
needed for spreading basins
Costs for treatment, water quality
monitoring, and
injection/infiltration facilities
operations may be expensive.
Recharge may increase the danger
of aquifer contamination due to
inadequate pretreatment.

Groundwater Recharge
Limitations (2)
Not all recharged water may be
recoverable
Hydrogeologic uncertainties may
reduce the effectiveness of the
recharge project in meeting water
supply demand
Inadequate institutional arrangements
or groundwater laws may not protect
water rights

Groundwater Recharge
Techniques

Source: US EPA. Guidelines for

Groundwater Recharge
Guidelines (WA)
Treatment
BOD5
TSS
Turbidity
Total
Coliform
Total
Nitrogen

Oxidized, coagulated,
filtered, and disinfected
5 mg/l
5 mg/l
2 NTU (Avg); 5 NTU (Max)
2.2/100 ml (Avg); 23/100
ml (Max)
Not specified
Source: US EPA. Guidelines for

Conclusions
Many current uses for recycled
wastewater
Varying levels of treatment required
Pros:
Conserve potable water
Reduce effluent to environment

Cons:
Health & safety precautions necessary
Careful planning needed

Potential for much greater use in future

Questions?