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An Analysis of Direct Potable Water Reuse Acceptance

in the United States: Obstacles and Opportunities

Charla R. Cain MPH Capstone Project

May 2011

Advisor: Jacqueline Agnew, RN, MPH, PhD, Professor, JHSPH Mentor: Thaddeus Graczyk, MSc, PhD

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Presentation Outline   Introduction   Description of Potable Water Reuse – Indirect and Direct   Drivers of Direct Potable Reuse   ADWT Treatment Train   Case Studies   Obstacles and Opportunities

  Treatment Train Unit Processes   Health Risk Concerns   Key Regulations   Public Perception   Management and Operational Controls

  Conclusion

Introduction

  Dependable supply of safe drinking water

  Status quo – conventional drinking water treatment

  Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) – successful in U.S., 30yrs

  Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) – most sustainable option

  Has DPR’s time now come?   Survey current literature   Illuminate problem of DPR acceptance   Report on opportunities to go forward

Indirect Potable Water Reuse

  Unplanned IPR

  jjkj

  Planned IPR

Adapted from: Asano, T. et. al. Water Reuse. 2007. p. 1307

Water Reclamation plant

Drinking water Treatment

Plant

Wastewater Treatment

Plant Drinking water

Treatment Plant

Wastewater Treatment

Plant

Direct Potable Reuse

“The introduction of highly treated reclaimed water either..

directly into the potable water distribution system downstream of a water treatment plant, (i.e., pipe-to-pipe)

or into the raw water supply

immediately upstream of a water treatment plant.”

Adapted from : Asano, T. et. al. Water Reuse. 2007. p 1307

Water Reclamation

plant

Wastewater Treatment

plant

Drinking water Treatment

plant

Drivers of DPR

  Global water situation

  Water-scarce / water-stressed areas

  Population increases / demographic shifts

  Environmental Impacts

  Right to Water

Advanced Drinking Water Treatment (ADWT)

Secondary effluent

Tertiary treatment (pretreatment for

advanced processes)

Dissolved constituents removal, conditioning

Disinfection

HOME

Ozonation PAC MF/UF Filtration UV disinfection

GAC / BAC Ion Exchange RO AOP Water conditioning / pH

Chlorine UV Ozone

ADWT Targets

  Inorganics (i.e. nitrogen, sulfides, heavy metals)   Membrane Bioreactor, Reverse Osmosis

  Organics (i.e. Benzene, DDT, carbon tetrachloride)   Membrane Bioreactor, Reverse Osmosis

  Microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, protozoa, helminthes)   Membrane Bioreactor, Disinfection (chlorine, UV, ozone)

  Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (i.e. Estradiol, Progesterone) and Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (i.e. Hydrocodone, Dilantin, Deet)   Reverse Osmosis and UV/Advanced Oxidation Process

Note: MBR includes PAC, GAC, BAC, UF/MF/NF

Case Study – Windhoek, Namibia

  Only DPR location in world!   Opened 1969, upgraded 2002   Multiple Barrier Approach   Oversight by leading water

treatment agencies

New Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant

Source: http://www.fichtner.de/en/water_supply_projects.html Source: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windhoek_Skyline.jpg

Case Study - Singapore

Used Water

Microfiltration

Reverse Osmosis

Disinfection with UV light

NEWater

DPR – Current Dialogue

  Media / Government   Wall Street Journal   EPA’s Office of Water

  Scientific Researchers   NWRI DPR regulation white paper, CA   2010 DPR Workshop Report, CA

  Public Health Researchers   JHSPH and wastewater reuse

  WateReuse Association   WateReuse Symposium DPR presentations

Determinants of DPR Acceptance

Treatment Train Processes

Health Risk Concerns

Key Regulatory Issues

Management and Operational

Controls Cost

Treatment Train - Obstacles

  Logistical Difficulties

  Membrane Sensitivity

  Disinfection Byproducts

  Waste Stream Generation

Treatment Train - Opportunities

  Increased Research and Development   Example: Endocrine Disrupting Compounds and

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products

  2010 DPR Workshop Report   Classification of best treatment process order   Identification of Chemicals of Emerging Concern

(CEC) surrogates   Validation of barrier effectiveness against

benchmarks

Health Risk Concerns - Obstacles

  Few Epidemiologic and Toxicological potable reuse studies in IPR and DPR

  Difficulties extrapolating IPR epidemiologic studies to DPR

  Long-term health effects difficult to assess

  CECs

Health Risk Concerns - Opportunities

  Perform epidemiologic studies of DPR and potential health effects

  2010 DPR Workshop Report   Water quality treatment performance goals   Validation of treatment performance goals through

performance monitoring   Health risk and exposure assessments   Monitoring for public health assurance

Key Regulations - Obstacles

  SDWA and CWA insufficient for DPR regulation

  No U.S. Federal regulations for IPR or DPR

  U.S. Federal guidelines for IPR only

  State regulations for IPR - 4 states only

  No state regulations or guidelines for DPR

Key Regulations - Opportunities

  EPA to include DPR chapter in next Guidelines for Water Reuse

  California leader   2010 NWRI White Paper   2010 DPR Workshop Report

  Identify optimal regulatory scheme   Develop CEC evaluation approach   Assess environmental buffer function   Develop source control strategy

Public Perception - Obstacles

  Largest hurdle

  No separation between sewage effluent and drinking water influent

  Media

  Water is “everywhere” and therefore DPR not necessary

“From toilets to tap: How we get tap water from sewage” USA Today, Kathy Chu http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/environment/2011-03-03-1Apurewater03_CV_N.htm#

Public Perceptions - Opportunities

  Utilize identified factors influencing public perceptions and behavioral acceptability

  2010 DPR Workshop Report   Develop appropriate terminology   Survey stakeholders and involve at inception   Utilize health communication specialists to develop

messages and strategy

  “Trust” = strongest influencing factor. Capitalize!

Management & Operational Controls – Obstacles and Opportunities

  Real-time process monitoring

  Control strategies development

  2010 DPR Workshop Report   Consider system design for emergency response   Develop enhanced source control programs   Develop DPR operational guidelines

Conclusion

  Direct Potable Reuse….   Viable option for future water resource management   Acceptance depends on pursuing opportunities   Need for stronger epidemiologic research   California as a model

“When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water.” Benjamin Franklin, (1706-1790), Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1746

Thank You…

For a thirst-free future…

…your kids will thank you! www.thirstfreefuture.com

References   Intro

  http://www.battelle.org   IPR / DPR

  Asano, T.; Burton, F.L.; Leverenz, H.L.; Tsuchihashi, R.; Tchobanoglous, G. Indirect Potable Reuse through Surface-Water Augmentation. Chapter 23. In: Water Reuse: Issues, Technologies, and Applications. New York: Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., 2007: p.1307 & 1346.

  Windhoek, Namibia   http://www.fichtner.de/en/water_supply_projects.html   http://www.hivresponse.gov.na   http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windhoek_Skyline.jpg

  Singapore   http://www.livetradingnews.com/barclays-offers-rmb-bond-fund-in-singapore-39050.htm   http://www.ambsingapore.um.dk/en/menu/CommercialServices/MarketOpportunities/Sectoranalyses/

Energy+and+Environment/   http://www.greatnewplaces.com/t-Sembcorp

  Key Regulations – Opportunities   http://nwri_usa.org

  Public Perceptions – Obstacles   http://worldchanging.com   http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/environment/2011-03-03-1Apurewater03_CV_N.htm#