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<br /> The road to recovery is paved with good with water scarcity in some regions.It claims
<br /> inventions...and supportive attitudes— advanced treatment and reuse of wastewater can
<br /> _ both of which need revamping from time to boost water supplies of coastal cities by as much
<br /> r time if we are going to manage water and waste as 27%.Along the way,it interjects some phrases
<br /> successfully in the coming years. worth noting and understanding,such as"sewage
<br /> T One of my favorite resource recovery and ben- farming"(which still occurs abundantly in Mexico
<br /> eficial reuse success stories takes place in Arizona. City)and"de facto reuse"(which occurs every-
<br /> By Benjamin H.Grumbles The Arizona Department of Transportation,the where,given the hydrologic cycle and the sociolog-
<br /> private sector and others have been partnering for ical fact that we all live downstream).
<br /> years to build and retrofit highways with rubber- On nutrients,another one of my favorite top-
<br /> ized asphalt,an alternative,eco-friendly material ics,the battle lines and high stakes are becoming
<br /> made from shredded old tires.The result:smaller clearer.State-based reports under the Clean Water
<br /> waste tire piles(sitting ugly,waiting to catch fire Act(CWA)show a growing problem with nutri-
<br /> in the desert sun or attract vermin and spread dis- ents,leading to increasing numbers of impaired
<br /> ease),quieter roadways and creation of good jobs water bodies,triggering more stringent pollution
<br /> that convert waste to wealth. budgets(total maximum daily loads[TMDLsj)—
<br /> On the waterfront,similar success stories grow all to fix a problem that could have been prevented
<br /> bigger and better each day,which is good because or reduced through more creative and collective
<br /> we will run out of time,money and breathing efforts.Many of the controversial permitting deci-
<br /> room if we do not innovate.Fortunately,the glass sions and regulatory revisions center on nitrogen
<br /> is more than half full as reclaimed water and and phosphorus loadings from cities,suburbs,
<br /> "wastewater'and recovered nutrients,biosolids, farms and pastures,and the impacts on aquifers,
<br /> biogas and heat all vie for attention and support. streams and coasts.Concentrated animal feeding
<br /> operations,construction site runoff and advanced
<br /> Shifting paradigms Recycling on the Rise tertiary treatment at municipal wastewater plants
<br /> Wastewater recycling is not a new movement, are at issue in different EPA proposals,especially
<br /> open new doors to but it holds promise for our water future like never the costs and benefits of controls.
<br /> before.The WateReuse Assn.has been around The storm continues to brew as EPA and CWA
<br /> recovery and reuse since 2000,successfully promoting the effort on a controls hit home with water quality standards driv-
<br /> national scale.States like California,Florida,Texas ing permitting decisions and technology choices.
<br /> and Arizona have done most of the recycling work, Nutrient pollution consistently ranks as one of the
<br /> but others are gaining steam—good news at a time top three water quality problems across the coun-
<br /> when population,climate and other stressors put a try.More than 5,000 TMDLs are devoted to aitrient-
<br /> squeeze on existing supplies. impaired waters,and the numbers will continue to
<br /> According to the California Recycled Water Task grow if we fail to change strategies and step up efforts.
<br /> Force,the state has the potential to recycle enough
<br /> to meet 30p16 to 50910 of household water needs of Changing Mindsets
<br /> its projected growth.California has more than 300 Clean Water America Alliance,which pays my
<br /> water recycling plants operating,with 4,800 sites salary,believes environmental and economic prog-
<br /> using recycled water as of 2004.Forty-six percent of ress will go hand-in-hand if we can shift the para-
<br /> the water is used for agricultural irrigation,21%for digm from"flush and go"or"treat and discharge"
<br /> landscape irrigation,149'o for groundwater recharge to"recover and reuse."Our urban water sustain-
<br /> and 194A for all other uses. ability council includes members who are recover
<br /> ing and reusing nutrients,biosolids and biogas.
<br /> Doing More Companies are offering tools and technologies to
<br /> We can all do more,especially for munici- recover nutrients and create valuable products,
<br /> pal wastewater reuse.Arizona's Blue Ribbon allowing former so-called wastewater utilities to
<br /> Commission on Water Sustainability focused on become centers of reclamation and regeneration
<br /> technical,legal,social and cultural barriers to benefitting local waters,lands and economies.
<br /> wastewater reuse in its December 2010 report.It We also are reviewing and rethinking the role of
<br /> included 63 recommendations for recycling,reuse home sink incinerators.Food scraps sent through
<br /> and conservation.Other states are implementing sewers to well performing wastewater facili-
<br /> or exploring similar efforts. ties may be the best thing since sliced bread;at
<br /> An important new study will further boost the least if the utilities view the Influent as a resource
<br /> rethink and-reuse movement.In January 2012, for mining nutrients and generating energy,and
<br /> the National Academy of Sciences(NAS)Water deploy the right technologies and management
<br /> Science and Technology Board issued"Water Reuse: strategies.The result may be more food that fuel
<br /> Potential for Expanding the Nations Water Supply water facilities and less waste at landfills.
<br /> Through Reuse of Municipal Wastewater."(Note: The more we look,the more we learn:Changing
<br /> I serve on the board but was not appointed to it mindsets can open new doors and lead to cleaner
<br /> until after the report was finished;I also offered the water,greener energy and a brighter future.m
<br /> U.S.Environmental Protection Agency[EPA]sup-
<br /> port for the study several years ago when I was EPA Benjamin H.Grumbles is president of the Clean Water
<br /> Assistant Administrator for Water.) America Alliance.Views expressed in this column may not
<br /> The NAS study analyzes the scientific,techni- necessarily reflect those of the Alliance or its members.
<br /> cal,legal,cultural and psychological barriers and Grumbles can be reached at bhgrumbles@gmaii,com.
<br /> risks and calls for specific actions.It builds the
<br /> case for more reuse,analyzing real versus per- For more information,write in 1101 on this issue's reader
<br /> ceived health risks as well as growing problems service form on page 38.
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