water reclamation

South Florida counties dump 300 million gallons of lightly treated sewage into the Bay every day, and have been for decades. Officials say its too expensive to clean or reclaim the dirty water.

Its true that it IS expensive to do, as estimates of the cost of building a facility to clean, sanitize, redirect, and reuse the water starts at 3 billion. Even by today's standards, that is serious money.

To generate that kind of cash S Fla governments- and by extension, its residents- are going to have to rethink how we think about water.Many of us think nothing of paying $2 for bottled water but balk at paying the same amount for 1,000 gallons of water from our tap at home.

A bill making its way thru the Legislature (CS/SB 1302) would make it mandatory for water utilities to clean up the waste water now discharged into the ocean by 2019 and eliminate all sewage dumping by 2025. It would require a massive retooling of our water policies and physical plants. Population growth alone will require, coincidentally, 300 million gallons of water per day by 2028.

In order to meet these standards elected officials would have to educate the residents regarding the true costs of our water.The current $35 a month will go up dramatically, perhaps two-or-threefold. Officials need to start the education process now.

Also, water managers must begin the task of redirecting and reclaiming water that is now lost to the sea. Changing the eastward flow to the sea of the canal water is an ambitious and long term project that may very well be beyond the local governments abilities and will probably require support form the State and the Federal authorities. (Miami Herald, Editorial, page 2L, April 6, 2008)

Florida International University's North campus has used reclaimed water for over 25 years to irrigate their campus. It cost $250,000 initially to run the pipes to the campus from the water treatment plant 1/2 mile away. The water is treated down to five parts per billion and retains some of its nutrients, which makes it a perfect fertilizer for the soil. Drinking water is 0-1 parts per billion. Watering is done at night or other times to reduce the chances of anyone being around to drink it and signs warn those who may be tempted to take a gulp.

The last numbers I have heard reflect 56 million gallons of reclaimed water being used per day by FIU and savings of over $100,000 a year. Also, FIU wants to expand their campus and are asking for ALL the reclaimed water they can get, up to 80 million gallons per day, and more during the rainy season.

This reclaimed water can be used to water our school campuses, golf courses, parks, and farm fields, saving the drinking water for drinking. In addition, the reclaimed water could be used at Turkey Point in their cooling towers, as they require HUGE amounts of water daily.

Its a win-win situation, where the environment wins because it get all the water and nutrients it needs; we win because it saves us money, nurtures our vegetation, and preserves the drinking water for drinking.