Concerns about Direct Potable Reuse

Russian River Watershed Protection Committee

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Citation: Adelman B. 2015. Concerns about direct potable reuse. Environ Health Perspect 123:A146; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1509914
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The author is chair of and receives partial payment for her work on behalf of Russian River Watershed Protection Committee.
Final Publication: 1 June 2015

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According to Dahl (2014), water shortages in parts of the United States are so dire that attitudes toward wastewater reuse, including direct injection into drinking water, are becoming more favorable. He noted 12 locations nationwide that directly or indirectly blend highly treated wastewater with potable supplies, with more projects planned. California’s ongoing crisis-level drought has convinced some citizens to be more open toward direct potable reuse as a viable way to expand existing supplies. As evidence of growing acceptance, Dahl quoted Daniel Nix, operations manager for Wichita Falls Public Works, stating that new regulations were developed to ensure complete protection of public health, that users reported the water tasted great, and that “[t]he quality’s good, nobody’s gotten sick, and we haven’t had any problem with the plants” (Dahl 2014).
Yet, nobody knows the extent to which potentially toxic chemicals remaining in rivers and drinking water supplies after advanced treatment may compromise health, development, and reproductive ...

Source: EHP Research - June 1, 2015 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Web Admin Tags: Correspondence June 2015 Source Type: research