Recycled sewage water may be key water source for the 21 century

I love when they say water is just flushed down toilets as if that water magically vanishes from the earth, water is always recycled naturally. It's a little process known as the water cycle right? Didn't we learn this in elementary school? It's not so much recycling but getting water where it is needed that is the issue. We should just build huge desalination plants and use ocean water.

Puny Humans, Learn to Conserve...
My offspring have always shared their bath water...

Or perhaps you may become an observer...
Such as observer2121... And observe the soon to be depleated oceans... With your ocean depleating machines... You may observe your water cycles leeching leechables from your Malls back into your tiny oceans filling them with Mall stuff, displacing your tiny fish populations... You may observe your water sucking apparatus fill the fountains of your Super Malls as it suck rivers, lakes, seas and your Puny Planet Dry!

Desalination is not the answer and makes more CO2 emissions that actually cause drought. They are also huge and expensive to build and harm marinelife as the brakish residue from desalinating the ocean water is usually pumped back into the ocean. It is nothing but a viscious circle bandaid. Why do we humans always have to take the selfish way out thinking only of our own convenience? Why can't we have the moral will to conserve? And with reclaimed sewage water, they better make sure people who drink it don't get sick.

I worked on ships for a while and was simply amazed at the technology that we had onboard for water filtration. I mean, we could actually turn grey water (and I'm pretty sure even black water) into crystal clear purified water. Of course, we didn't drink it. But the technology was awesome.

As for municipal tap water, I'd like to see people get a little more concerned about polluting their brains with fluoride for absolutely no reason at all.

People do not read news that happened about this subject weeks ago..recycling sewage water already happens...but you cannot get rid of certain chemical residues because they are so tiny..and pass through the filtration systems...they are the ones you do not want to ingest?

PlanetBJR don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting we abandon all other forms of recycling but as the world population goes over 9 billion I don't think recycled sewage water is going to be enough to provide for the thirsty masses. Dubai already gets a large percentage of its drinking water from the ocean. We need solutions, like it or not the world is not going to turn into a "Green Haven" over night. Until the day that happens I'd like us to be able to get drinking water from the largest water source on the planet.

As noted there are over a billion people without adequate water, I seriously doubt these people are thirsty because they are using their water to flush their toilets.

Hey Guys,

I want you all to know that I happen to be OC resident and we were notified of this new water recycling process. In fact, it was published in our OC Register and in our local news. From my experience, the water to me has not changed. I don't mind having this "recycled water." Also, as far as drinking it, I don't know anyone around who is drinking tap water to begin with. Most of the people I know and see, we all drink from bottled water. So yes, I think the amount of fluoride added in these so called "fresh bottled water" is something to be more worried about than this new recycling thing in the OC.

Althouh, if I may add, some people were freaked out when the news came out and they wanted nothing to do with "recycled" water. Lol.

It's a good idea, but it's guaranteed that people will be freaked out by it. Most people would rather spend money on bottled water from the alps...

What goes around comes around. There are many people that do not believe in Global Warming! More vehicle pollution contribute to acid rain.

If you combine that with less trees, now we have a drought! Just go ahead and keep pumping your pollution and watch the consequences.

-Why some people never take action before it is too late? That is the question!

Wow! thats cool but the truth is really bottled water is kinda the same thing. People think their bottled water comes from a mythical place when really its filtered out of the Boston Harbor(luke fact).

Well if you gathered all those toliets that consume 2.1 trillion gallons of water a year. And think about how much water at any given time is contained.

Water that should be going through its cycle... You know, that thing we learned in Science. It evaporates into clouds and then god uses it to take a shower.

So that water that should be clouds or even rivers in the countries with water shortages. Is in one of about however many godly toliets people have in each home in Orange County, or anywhere else for that matter.

They have been doing this in space stations for years, the technology is there and it works, I'm sure its just the $$$ that have put company's off applying this technology until now.

"fuck a bank i need a 20 year water tank"
- mos def

Its a great idea though not so current or inventive. One Apollo mission had trouble and its astronauts could not urinate or drink water. Fortunately, they had a waste water reclamation system onboard used for converting urine to potable water. They rigged a new hose and valve train to the filtration system and provided the waste water for conversion. Its used in places where there is little water to drink. The system is portable. Many of you already know that urine is essentially sterile, but will, like any other organic, decompose. Also, there is the example of the system in Kevin Kostner's "Water World" which we see him charge with urine, process and drink. Is it spring water? No. It tastes kind of flat, with no odor or taste.
But its fresh, clean and safe if the system is operated and maintained properly. Yes, it uses reverse osmosis. Added: The apparatus is cheap to make. The osmotic membrains do cost a bit. Cargill will tell you all about it, as will any company doing what they do.
Next, I would like to see something done with Belgium's surplus dung. There's so much of it that the ground cannot take anymore. It will have to be processed via filtration, tanked and transported to countries that need natural fertilizers. but its going to cost a whole lot of Euros. It would clean up things a bit and sort of spread the natural wealth.
Finally, someone is offering a safe, cheap, effective and readily doable solution to the growing needs for drinking water and puttting a lesser burden on our waste processing plants. City managers will love this budget cutter.

I think it's great. I just don't want to think or know about the fact that the water I'm drinking had a nasty background.

eau!

(sorry, I couldn't help myself)

The Earth is made up of 75% water. It would be a comedic moment if we run out of water with so much to work with.

If people thought about where their waste goes after they flush it, then this concept is actually not so surprising. Our treated waste returns to the streams and lakes that we swim in each summer, and where we derive our drinking water from in the first place...this is just a quicker, more direct route. The question is, how many times can water be treated and re-used before it loses its restorative properties and becomes useless or harmful?

I don't think water ever loses it's restorative properties. Otherwise it would have happened already. Earths been around for what billions of years and water is still good.

Water is fine. No need to be an alarmist. =P

Water is still good? What planet are you living on? The oceans, streams and lakes are heavily polluted my friend. In fact, most waterways include pesticides, antibiotics and other drugs, and numerous other pollutants. There are limits on the amounts of fish we should eat due to Mercury contamination.

I didn't sound the alarm, it was sounded a long time ago.

Then why care?

If you can't do anything then there's no need to mention it for theres not a way to solve it.

Why care? Because I need water, and earth to exist. Thanks for your insight, but this was not what I was originally commenting on, see my post above...it is a valid question.

It doesn't matter if you need it if you can't clean it and use it again.

I think your question is answered by nature itself.