Pilot water conservation project

The Laboratory has launched a pilot project to reduce potable water use by using treated groundwater to cool equipment and research facilities at the main site.

Water from one of LLNL's treatment wells is being run through areverse osmosisfiltration unit and used as an alternative to the Hetch-Hetchywaterused in the Bldg. 133 cooling tower on the west side of the Lab near Bldg. 132. Use of the treated groundwater reduces the need for water from the Hetch-Hetchy Reservoir operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the associated cost.

"This is part of an ongoing effort to conserve water, reduce costs and help the Laboratory meet its environmental goals," said Michael Cowen, LLNL sustainability manager. "At a time whenwater conservationis a matter of public concern and discussion, we continue to strive to identify innovative ways to improve water efficiency."

LLNL operates about 25 treatment wells around the main site that reduce the contaminants in groundwater to levels acceptable for discharge to the site's storm sewer system. The average discharge rate is about 600 gallons per minute. Most of the contaminants—called volatile organic compounds—are legacy waste from the time when the site was a US Navy air station.

In January and February the Environmental Restoration Division pumped some 711,000 gallons of well water through a pilot reverse osmosis unit at the Bldg. 133 cooling tower, replacing 498,000 gallons of potable Hetch-Hetchy water that would have been required. In 2014 the unit could potentially save 7 million gallons ofpotable water. Cleaning the ground water from the wells also makes economic sense because reverse osmosis produces better water at a cost that is lower than the potable water it replaces.

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Taxonomy

• Water Supply
• Reuse
• Reverse Osmosis