Water Reuse

Amy Northam
City of Levelland
Director of Wastewater Services
WATTS Conference
March 22, 2016

P.O. BOX 1010

Levelland, TX 79336
(806) 894-0113 ext. 263
(806) 470-7810 cell
anortham@levellandtexas.org
 Water is needed for life.

∗ Every creature and plant Water on Earth

on Earth needs water to
survive.
∗ Oceans make up about
97% of the Earth’s water.
∗ Less than 1% is available to
people for consumption,
agriculture, and industry
use. Oceans 97% Snow and Glaciers 2%
Fresh Water 3% Rivers, Lakes, Streams 1%

Feinstein, 2011 p. 9
 Conservation and Water Reuse needed
to promote sustainability.

∗ 2005 US average use per 2011 Freshwater Withdrawals

household is 254 gallons per day
(48,000 MGD).
100% 12
∗ Installing home water-saving 14
features, water use would 80% 18
decrease by 30%. 60% 46 Domestic
∗ 2005 US Industry use 162,000 40%
Industrial
70
MGD Agriculture
20% 40
∗ Switching to closed-loop
recirculation cooling towers 0%
would save 50% or more water World US
use. Source: World Bank Freshwater Table 3.5

Source: AWWA Water Use Statistics 2014, USGS 2005 Estimated Water Use 2009
Conservation and Water Reuse needed
to promote sustainability.

∗ 2005 US Agricultural use 2011 Freshwater Withdrawals

138,000 MGD per day;
half is lost to evaporation 100% 12 14
and evapotranspiration. 80% 18
∗ Switching to low flow 60% 46 Domestic
irrigation would save 35% 40%
Industrial
70
from evaporation: Agriculture
20% 40
∗ Drip Irrigation
0%
∗ Low Spray Irrigation World US

Source: USGS 2005 Estimated Water Use Source: World Bank Freshwater Table 3.5
Early Examples of Water Reuse.

∗ The oldest use of reclaimed wastewater in

the US is in Grand Canyon Village, AZ IN 1926.
∗ Dual distribution system - two separate lines into a
residence, to supply water for:
∗ Toilet flushing
∗ Boiler feed water for power generators
∗ Steam locomotives (Fulton 2011, p.12).
 Early Examples of Water Reuse.

By the 1970s, several other cities

began reusing their wastewater for:
∗ Agricultural – non food crops
∗ Industrial – thermoelectric
cooling towers
∗ Irrigation - lawns, golf
courses, and parks
 Early Examples of Water Reuse.

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

USA 2,006
Saudi Arabia 488
Egypt 470
Syria 268
Isreal 217
Spain 203
Total reuse 5,416

MGD

In 2008, the US reuses the most reclaimed wastewater out of all

countries at a rate of 2 BGD (Jimenez, 2008; NRC, 2012).
Where can we reclaim water for reuse?

Treated
Brackish Lagoons Oceans
Wastewater
Image Source: brackish.usegrid.net Image Source: kevinalanlamb.com Image Source: www.kfactorfilter.com

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency & USAID 2012)

 Potable Reuse

∗ Most familiar & sanitary

∗ Strict treatment
Drinking requirement for health
∗ For human consumption
Potable Bathing
∗ Public water works
Cooking ∗ Bottled water
 Non-potable Reuse

∗ Known as ‘gray water’

∗ Treatment not as strict
∗ Agriculture
∗ Irrigation of non-human food Agriculture
crops
∗ Industrial
∗ Cooling Towers
∗ Mining
Non- Industrial

∗ Paper Processing potable

∗ Urban Urban
∗ Fire hydrants
∗ Lawn and park irrigation
∗ Toilets
∗ Boiler feed
 Defacto Reuse

∗ Discharge from a municipal

treatment plant to a stream
or reservoir
Reuse ∗ Travels downstream mixing
with storm water to another
Reservoir
lake or reservoir
∗ Pulled from downstream
Discharge
lake or reservoir for reuse
∗ Example: Trinity River,
Defacto CRMWA
What Can We Do to Reclaim Water
from Sewage and Reuse It?
Treatment Process to Remove Wastes

Primary • Remove large solids, grit,

& grease

• Biological & chemical

process to break down
Secondary nutrients and remove most
solids

• Polishes and
Tertiary disinfects water
Wastewater Treatment for Reuse

Image Retrieved from: http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/water-pollution/sewage-treatment-process-for-kids.html