Turning sewage into drinking water gains appeal
By Monte Morin, Los Angeles Times
As the drought drags on, water managers and environmentalists advocate turning sewage into drinking water
It’s a technology with the potential to ease California’s colossal thirst and insulate millions from the parched whims of Mother Nature, experts say.
But there’s just one problem — the “yuck factor.”
As a fourth year of drought continues to drain aquifers and reservoirs, California water managers and environmentalists are urging adoption of a polarizing water recycling policy known as direct potable reuse.
Unlike nonpotable reuse — in which treated sewage is used to irrigate crops, parks or golf courses — direct potable reuse takes treated sewage effluent and purifies it so it can be used as drinking water.
STPUD used to have a tertiary EXPORT system here at South Lake Tahoe. Very expensive to operate, never went back into the system.
At least, that’s what I seem to remember…
When I was a kid I took the tour at STPUD. At the end of the tour the guide drank a glass of water from the treated sewage.
At least they TOLD you it was treated sewage. . .
I went on that tour in the mid 70’s and after the tour guide drank the water I asked him when it had last been tested for bacteria and virus. He said bacteria was done routinely but didn’t know when it had last been tested for a virus. I would not drink that water.
There was a time when the STPUD maintenance staff, believing their own propaganda, cross connected the output of the plant to, I believe, the showers and a drinking fountain.
Anyone who had contact with the water had to undergo medical treatment.
When STPUD reclamation operation openend it was touted as one of the best in the nation. Over the years improvevents have been made to keep things running smoothly.
They have made some mistakes and their been some leaky pipes, but overall I think they do a pretty good job.
A little pricey for the homeowner? Most definetly!
On the other hand we’ve got some of the best tap water around. Our treated sewage water is pumped outta here and used for filling resavoirs and irragatng agriculture off the hill. I’ve been told that’s no longer the case as I’m not up too speed on the sewage end of it as it were so I may be incorrect in what I was told.
Keep on truckn’ and pumpin’ STPUD. OLS