This document discusses wastewater reclamation as a way to meet growing water demands. It explores how the process works, provides a brief history, and analyzes pros and cons. Key recommendations are to increase education efforts to overcome public perception issues and promote wastewater reclamation as an economically feasible and drought-proof water source, especially in the growing Southwest region of the US. The biggest challenge is effective public education to build acceptance of reclaimed water.

1. Wastewater Reclamation
Sarah Craddock, Jessica Holberg, Brad
Rutzel

2. Introduction
• Struggle to meet the demand for clean water
– Desalination
– Wastewater Reclamation
• Objectives
– Explore how wastewater reclamation works
– Analyze pros and cons
– Recommendations for Future Development

3. How it works
• Wastewater Reclamation: potable vs
nonpotable
• 10%
• More economical
• SUSTAINABLE!

4. History
• Early 1500s
– Sewerage
– Water sanitation
• 1960s: Era of Wastewater Reclamation
• 1969: Namibia
• 1974 SWDA
• 1977 CWA
• Early 1980s-present day

5. Process
• Primary
• Secondary
• Tertiary
• Post-Tertiary

6. Process

7. Who Uses it?
• United States (California, Virginia, New
Mexico, Colorado)
• Namibia
• Singapore
• Australia (parts)
• And Beyond!

8. Analysis of Issues
The BIGGEST Issue
• Most people think “YUCK”!
• Even though it’s certified clean
• How do you convince people it’s ok?

9. More common than you know!
Most people don’t realize that most water
they’re consuming is actually reclaimed water
that was put in a stream or river from the city
before theirs.

10. Orange County, California
• They take the reclaimed water and put it back
into a groud aquifer.
• “Technically" it is groundwater
• If questioned, they host informative meetings
on how the water meets regulations.

11. Interviews
Three Employees from the City of Howell
Wastewater Department.
• Not really informed on how it works.
• Not one finds the system necessary for Michigan
• They DO find it smart and beneficial for places
who don’t have great water amounts.
• They have problems with just putting reclaimed
water into the river, let alone having people drink
it.

12. Climate Change
• Southwest- Their water
is diminishing FAST
• In need of water
source.
• Coastal communities
could increase the
amount of municipal
water available by as
much as 27 percent.

13. Population
The population is projected to double in the
Southwest in 20-40 years.
We already don’t have enough water!!

14. Pros
• The water is less expensive to use or to treat
and users benefit from the savings.
• The end use is located close to the source
thereby eliminating the need for costly
distribution systems.
• Reclaimed water is a drought-proof source of
water, which is probably the biggest upside to
the system.

15. Pros
• It is the only source of water that
automatically increases with increased
economic activity and population growth,
which helps with the economic drought.
• One last major pro to the system is it helps
conserve traditional sources of water such as
groundwater and surface water.

16. Cons
• The water reuse may be
seasonal in nature, resulting
in the overloading of
treatment and disposal
facilities during off seasons.
• Need to pay for a new
treatment system. (Terrible
economy, and money is
EVERYTHING to many)

17. Recommendations
• Use reclaimed
wastewater!
– Virtually nothing to
worry about
– More economically
feasible
– Stable water supply
• WHY?
– Aquifer Mining
– Salt water
encroachment

18. Biggest Hurdle
• Education!
• Education!
• Education!

19. How can we educate effectively?
• Three groups control
public opinion
– Politicians
– Advocacy Groups/
Interested Organizations
– Media

20. Effective Education
• Visual Information
• Reach out to everybody everywhere
• Be straightforward
– Share all relevant information
– Use recognizable terms
• Education Works!

21. Recommendations
• Combined sewers
– Make sure facility has
enough capacity
• Personal Care Products
– Further research
– Wastewater reclamation
process more effective?

22. Other Options
• Storm water as drinking water
• Singapore
– Import water from Malaysia
– Rainwater catchment
– Reservoir in ocean
– Desalination
– Wastewater Reclamation