The Advanced Water Treatment Plant in Scottsdale, Arizona, recently became the third facility in the nation permitted to treat recycled water for direct potable reuse (DPR).
It’s the first such permit issued by the state of Arizona, and it establishes a pathway for other cities in the state to work toward direct potable reuse plans. “Scottsdale Water has always been at the forefront of water reuse innovation,” says Scottsdale Water Executive Director Brian K. Biesemeyer, in a prepared statement, according to Scottsdale Independent. “We have been successfully operating our Advanced Water Treatment Plant to treat recycled water to ultrapure standards for over two decades. We are extremely proud to help not just Arizona cities, but communities worldwide, establish a path toward direct potable reuse and long-term water sustainability.”
The plant has performed indirect potable reuse for the past 20 years. While Scottdale itself isn’t planning to make use of the DPR system, other cities in the state are actively planning to use its system as a blueprint for their own DPR facilities.
In the meantime, Scottsdale plans to tackle the public perception issue surrounding DPR, and the first step includes — you guessed it — brewing beer.
Officials Advise Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Stop Accepting Newark's Water
Recently publicized documents show that officials in Elizabeth, New Jersey, were advised to stop taking water from Newark, according to NJ.com.
The warning apparently came from Liberty Water Company, which services Newark. The company wanted to limit people’s exposure to Newark’s water, which in addition to elevated lead levels, is dealing with excessive levels haloacetic acids.
Elizabeth officials heeded the warning and turned off the water supply coming from Newark, but after residents complained of low water pressure, the connection was reopened.
Countywide Boil-Water Advisory Lifted in Georgia
A countywide boil-water advisory in DeKalb County, Georgia, recently was lifted after the Georgia Environmental Protection Division reviewed and analyzed a series of water samples.
Out of an abundance of caution, the advisory was issued after heavy thunderstorms affecting Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant in north DeKalb County led to power outages overnight Sept. 13 and early Sept. 14.
“DeKalb County would like to thank our residents, business owners and visitors for their patience and cooperation during the boil water advisory,” says DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. “Thanks to the hard work of DeKalb County employees and efforts of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, the county’s water system has returned to normal.”
Two Recent Documentaries Highlight Flint Water Crisis
A new documentary highlighting the Flint Water Crisis as an example of the country’s aging water infrastructure premiered Sept. 12 at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Flint.
The film is titled Flint: The Poisoning of an American City and it examines how 5,300 cities in the nation have violated lead rules and how 2,000 public water systems in all 50 states have elevated lead levels.
Flint also was also on TV screens nationwide recently for the premier of a Frontline documentary on PBS that focused on the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that occurred during the Flint Water Crisis.
