CostEffective Water Reuse

1
Cost-Effective Water Reuse

• Presentation to the 2003 Virginia Municipal
  League Annual Conference
• By
• William S. MCoy, P.E., DEE
• Vice President
• HDR Engineering, Inc.

2
Water Reuse Terms Defined
Reclaimed Water water resulting from the
treatment of domestic, municipal or industrial
wastewater that is suitable for a direct
beneficial or controlled use.

• Reuse use of reclaimed water

3
Types of Water Reuse

• Potable Reuse
• Direct not practiced in US
• Indirect aquifer recharge, reservoir discharge

• Non-Potable Reuse
• Direct irrigation, cooling water, fire
  suppression
• Indirect wetlands restoration, groundwater
  recharge

4
Why Reuse Water?
Reduces Pollutants to Rivers and Estuaries
Limited New Water Sources
Lowers Cost to Users
Social/ Environmental Benefits
Restores Groundwater Levels
Relieves Potable Water Demand
Improves Potable Water Quality
Offers Reliable Water Supply (Drought-Proof)
Restores River/Lake Levels
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Typical Uses of Reclaimed Water

• Residential Landscape Irrigation
• Park/Golf Course Irrigation
• Industrial Cooling Water and Process Water
• Dust Control
• Fire Suppression
• Groundwater Recharge
• Agricultural/Silvicultural Irrigation
• Wetlands Flow Augmentation

6
Reuse Project Requires Stakeholder Involvement

• Water Supplier
• Wastewater Agency
• Economic Development
• Chamber of Commerce
• Environmental Groups
• State/Federal Regulators
• Customers (or Anticipated Customers)
• Public

7
Current Reuse Projects in Virginia

• Upper Occoquan Sewage Authority (UOSA)
• Indirect Potable Reuse
• Up to 54 millions gallons per day of Reclaimed
  Water to Occoquan Reservoir
• Since 1970
• Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD)
• Industrial Reuse (Oil Refinery)
• Cooling Water, Fire Suppression, Utility Water
• Up to 500,000 gpd
• Since 2002

8
Obstacles to Water Reuse
Cost of Treatment and Distribution
Lack of Stakeholder Consensus
No Regulatory Guidance in VA
Public Perception
Inexpensive Water Supplies
9
Cost-Effectiveness of Water Reuse

• Potable Water 3-4 /1000 gal
• Reclaimed Water 1-9/1000 gal
• Sewage Collection NC
• Sewage Treatment NC
• Tertiary Treatment 1-7/1000 gal
• Distribution 0-2/1000 gal

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Future of Water Reuse in Virginia

• Potable Water Cost Increases
• More Stringent Regulations
• Diminishing Supplies
• Reduction in Reclaimed Water Costs
• Improvements in Treatment Technologies
• Increasing Water Demands
• Reduction in Pollutant Discharges
• Reuse Regulatory Guidance??