Sewage Used for Drinking Water

Construction recently began on a USD13 million water-reclamation plant believed to be the first of its kind in Texas. And officials have worked to dispel any fears that people will be drinking their neighbors' urine, promising the system will yield clean, safe water. Some residents are prepared to put aside any squeamishness if it means having an abundant water supply.

Similar plants have been operating for years in Tucson, Ariz., parts of California and in other countries. Water experts predict other American cities will follow suit as they confront growing populations, drought and other issues.

The Colorado River Municipal Water District in West Texas began considering a wastewater recycling plant back in 2000 and broke ground last month on the facility in Big Spring, about 100 miles southeast of Lubbock. When finished late 2012, it should supply 2 million gallons of water a day.

This year's drought has made a bone-dry region even drier, causing crops to wither and animals and fish to die off by the thousands. At least one of the three reservoirs in West Texas may dry up if the drought persists through next year, as climatologists have predicted could happen. That means the district's water supply could be reduced from 65 million gallons a day to 45 million, said John Grant, the water district's general manager.

The new system could actually improve the taste of the region's water by removing the minerals and salt that give it a distinctive briny flavor, he added. The idea to recycle sewage isn't new. Fort Worth and other cities across the nation have long used treated wastewater to water grass and trees and irrigate crops. But the new treatment plant in West Texas will be the first in the state to provide drinking water.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have been drinking recycled urine and sweat since 2009 - and consistently given the water good reviews. For years, NASA had been working on equipment that would enable astronauts to recycle their wastewater for drinking, cooking and bathing. The system was launched to the space station in late 2008, and it took several months to conduct enough tests - in orbit and on the ground - to ensure the water was safe to consume.

Since the space shuttle fleet was retired last month, the space station's recycling system is needed more than ever. Shuttles can't deliver fresh water, and the agency says astronauts will need such recycling systems on future missions to an asteroid and Mars.

The wastewater recycling process is long and complex. The first steps remove salt and impurities such as viruses and even traces of medicine. Then the wastewater is channelled into a lake or reservoir, where it's blended with fresh water and eventually gets pumped into a water-treatment facility. There, it undergoes several more rounds of cleaning, disinfection and testing before finally reaching home faucets.

When the project was presented several years ago, there were no major protests during public hearings, Grant said. Most people don't mind the idea once they understand that the treated water is safe to drink, he said.

In California, the West Basin Municipal Water District in southwest Los Angeles County started treating wastewater in the 1990s because it had been importing 80 percent of its water. Using recycled water has not only cut down on importing costs but also helped the environment by eliminating the need to dump sewage in the ocean, officials said.

San Diego also is studying the idea.