Research to Turn Reclaimed Water Into Drinking Water

Tucson may be just a few years away from seeing highly-treated, reclaimed water coming from its kitchen taps 

It is a way to cope with water shortages as Arizona and other southwestern states continue in a prolonged drought that shows no sign of ending.

Researchers promise that in a few years, Tucson will be able to drink the highest quality water it has ever experienced, even though it will have had its start at a wastewater treatment plant.

"Water is a basic necessity in life and I would personally... I would drink it," said Tucsonan Guillermo Chavarin.  

It is the job of the brand new Water and Energy Sustainable Technology, WEST Center, to help make that happen. Using reclaimed water is not new to Tucson. It is currently used for irrigation on farms, golf courses, schools and parks.

Dr. Ian Pepper is a University of Arizona professor and co-director of WEST, a partnership between Pima County and the University of Arizona.

"Tucson actually has the longest reclaimed water distribution system of any city in country," Pepper said.

The need for a new source of drinking water stems from the water shortage in the southwest that is only expected to get worse.

"We need a new water resource and this can be supplied by utilizing reclaimed water for potable reuse," Pepper said.

He said WEST will research the most advanced, sophisticated treatments to make reclaimed water safe and pure and "is of much higher quality than any groundwater or surface water or water that you're currently drinking out of the tap."

Pepper said there is another critical step, however, and that is developing a constant proactive monitoring system.

Not everyone is convinced that heavily treated reclaimed water can be safe.

Source: TucsonNews Now

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• Treatment
• Purification
• Treatment Plants
• Water Treatment Solutions
• Reuse
• Drinking Water
• Water Purification