Reuse: Where Is It Headed?

By Jim Christian, Timmons Group

“Recharge is the process of taking highly treated reclaimed water and allowing it to percolate into our depleting groundwater supplies, thereby replenishing dwindling groundwater”
-Jim Christian

Throughout the years, I have been asked where our nation is headed in regards to replenishing our water supply, especially given our seemingly shifting weather patterns leading to isolated drought situations. Having only been in this business a relatively brief period of time as compared to our climate changes, I have seen a major shift in how we view this most precious commodity, our potable water supply. Now more than ever the old saying of “whoever has the water rules” could not be more accurate.

Having been raised in the Southwestern United States and also having started my career there, I saw firsthand the struggles over water. When our water supplies were stretched to their limits the almost unspeakable topic of recycling our wastewater was born out of the necessity to supply our water needs. Reuse emerged in several geographical areas but it seemed most predominate in more arid regions: southwestern and southeastern United States. Until recently, the rest of our nation seemed to have plentiful water supplies and the need to recycle our water seemed unnecessary.

Now, with a career spanning over 30 years, having been a national Director in one of ENR’s top three firms, and working in many major cities across the nation, I have had the privilege of seeing this once immerging concept grow to full acceptance. As an example, today we would be hard pressed to not read or hear about something regarding our dwindling fresh water supplies. Even areas of the country that typically have high levels of precipitation and are lushly vegetated are now turning to recycling our most precious commodity, water.

In many places throughout the country there has been a movement to develop reuse regulations. Such is the case in Virginia, with the adoption of reuse regulations as recently as last year. While this concept was not new to Virginia, it was not fully accepted until our normally drought resistant area had been struck by drought like conditions. Hence, our forward looking local leaders came to the rescue with their new regulations.

One such farsighted leader is the County Administrator of Southampton County, Virginia, Mr. Michael Johnson. Several months ago the County commissioned Timmons Group and Mr. David Ervin leading the construction firm of Mid Eastern Builders (MEB) of Virginia to use a design-build approach to quickly construct a 1.25 million gallon per day (mgd) (ultimate 3.75 mgd) Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) in preparation of their growing population’s demand for water. This approach is founded on the principle of utilizing their potable well water supply for drinking and exploring the use of reuse water for such things as greenbelt irrigation. For decades reuse has been used in many locations throughout the country and is now being used in Virginia.

Mr. Johnson was correct in his approach to utilize the design-build construction method to expedite his plan. To date the project is now ahead of schedule approximately 6 months and is incorporating several features throughout the project resulting from the valuable input from his staff.

Another such farsighted project being developed is on the opposite side of the Chesapeake Bay known as the Eastern Shore of Virginia. A group of investors, the Webtide Group, some investors with family ties reaching back ten generations into the Eastern Shore’s history, are trying to give back in the form of a regional water reclamation project. Their project is intended to service the entire southern portion of the Eastern Shore.

In short, their proposed project will collect wastewater from the several communities on the southern Eastern Shore and pump it to a centralized advanced water reclamation facility. Then their regional system will pump the highly treated reclaimed reuse water to existing facilities that are currently utilizing ground water.

Their clever approach will accomplish several objectives: one, it will provide a much needed wastewater collection system for many citizens in desperate need of such a system to replace some failing and non-existent stand-a-lone wastewater disposal systems; two, it will be a 100% reuse system which will stop discharging any treated effluent into the delicate Chesapeake Bay; third, every gallon of reuse water utilized will offset, drop for drop, the Eastern Shore’s dwindling ground water supply; forth, as a potential plus, an additional possible project component could be the use of Rapid Infiltration Basins to help recharge the Eastern Shore’s depleted ground water supply; and fifth, the possible use of ground water recharge will also help to arrest and push back the salt water intrusion that is affecting the Eastern Shore’s limited fresh ground water supply.

Another major proponent for this project is Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). They are doing all they can to foster this regional effort and to bring the vision of the regional system to fruition for the people of the Eastern Shore.

As effective a solution reuse is to offset our potable water supplies as our population grows, so will our demand for potable water. In several other progressive areas throughout our nation, reuse recharge is becoming more prevalent. Recharge is the process of taking highly treated reclaimed water and allowing it to percolate into our depleting groundwater supplies thereby recharging / replenishing dwindling groundwater.

One such system can be found on the western shore of Orange County, California. Southern California has long been a thriving population base thirsty for an ever increasing water supply. Again, out of necessity was born the concept of Water Factory 21. This reuse and recharge facility has long been a highly successful model for many other communities around the southwestern and southeastern United States to follow.

In some of our most stressed areas decades of ongoing work to monitor groundwater supplies has been done through Active Management Areas (AMA). Water supplies have been monitored to ensure that potable water does not run out. Many AMA’s require major cities to update their plans on an on-going basis to assure a rolling 100 year water supply. And again, when these AMA’s realize that some of their sub-areas are in jeopardy of decreasing their long-term water supply, they turn to three basic plans of action: one, conserve potable water; two, seek additional water supplies; and three, reuse and / or recharge.

More and more it is common to see reuse water signs on many of our large water hungry landscapes such as golf courses, parks, schools, and greenbelt areas. And, as in the past, the more common something’s become the less they tend to stand out and the more they are accepted as an everyday way of life.

As in Europe where recycling and conservation has long ago become a normal, integrated way of life, so that same way is washing over America’s landscape. Everywhere we turn we see signs in hotels to please conserve water for example. We have learned that educating the public is most likely the most important part of the reuse / conservation puzzle. With raised awareness of our problem facing many municipalities comes the much needed action by the very citizens we serve.

Last, having been involved with several “mega projects” costing hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars shaping our nations economy, it has become common place to not only consider energy conservation but also, and sometimes equally or more importantly, we consider water conservation and reuse. Currently my firm is helping Virginia land new major projects to further enhance our state’s economic status. And with each new project comes the demand for a water supply to support that project. Without hesitation the golden word “reuse” is brought forth to the front and center of each project’s pursuit. Question often asked include: How can we do it?  How can we recycle this new project’s water supply?  How can we further conserve yet grow our economy?  All are valuable questions but more importantly, these questions are becoming second nature.

While reuse water offers some unique challenges, such as the acceptance of such water by the general population and the need for additional energy consumption to create safe potable water, the future is clear. Reuse water is becoming a greater necessity in our country due to changes in weather patterns, population growth, and the depletion of natural water sources. We must promote reuse whenever we can. Like many “green” concepts today, reuse is here to stay. Education will be the key to its acceptance.

With more than 30 years experience, Jim Christian brings a wide range of reuse projects to his clients including crop and golf course irrigation, aquifer recharge and industrial applications such as tower water cooling. His experience spans the entire US, ranging from less than one MGD to 1,000 MGD and comprises engineering, permitting and public relations aspects of reuse.