CDM News - May 2008 - (Page 3) Photos 14 courtesy of AWWA In the final step, UV light combines with hydrogen peroxide to break down any organic compounds. 4 5 After undergoing the advanced threestep purification process, the treated effluent is ready for groundwater recharge and subsequent reuse. In addition to providing high-quality drinking water to the residents and businesses within the service area of 2.3 million people, the GWR system has environmental and social benefits. Not only is OCWD creating a reliable water supply from a previously wasted local resource, it is also drastically reducing the amount of effluent discharged to the Pacific Ocean. Recycling wastewater requires less energy than previously used to import costly water from Northern California and the Colorado River. Recycled water also reduces the salinity of the groundwater, minimizing cleaning costs and extending the life of water heaters, boilers, and plumbing fixtures. R. Bruce Chalmers, P.E., CDM associate and project engineer, noted the significance of the project, “For an environmental engineer, this is the job of a lifetime to work on. We are turning a previously wasted resource into a new source of water for 144,000 families. The blend of being challenged technically and knowing that you are working on something that not many people in the world have done is just incredible,” said Chalmers. Beyond the Basic Benefits to inform the public about the safety and effectiveness of the system. Markus explained that public education was a key component of the program. “We made a concerted effort to be transparent and educate the public,” he said. “We garnered the support of local officials in all the cities that were using the water, as well as state and federal legislators. We also got support from public health stakeholders and area environmental organizations.” That public education and outreach seems to have paid off—feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The GWR system is setting the benchmark for similar treatment facilities around the world. Australia recently unveiled a project in Queensland that uses the same technology and the country is already planning others. To date, the GWR system has been visited by professionals from Singapore and China, and similar plants are underway in Singapore and Miami, Florida. In terms of the precedent-setting project, Markus summed it up when he said, “With this plant coming online, it will certainly act as a springboard for this type of project to be built all over the world. Wherever there is a water problem, it really just makes sense to recycle.” | Melissa A. Salce While similar water reclamation systems have been controversial in nearby San Diego and Los Angeles, Orange County has embraced the creative solution. OCWD conducted an extensive outreach program Outreach Wins Public Support 3
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