How Does Water Reclamation Work?

Americans use around 322 billion gallons of water every day. Much of that water comes from reclaimed water that was once sewage. Agriculture, landscape irrigation, concrete plants, and other important parts of modern life rely heavily on water treatment and wastewater reuse. 

If you are curious about how water reclamation works, we’ll cover the topic in this article. And we’ll explore whether recycled water is ever used as drinking water and much more.

How Water Reuse Works

Water recycling (also known as water reuse) is the process of reclaiming water for the purpose of putting it to use for the public good.

Reused or recycled water may be used for:

• Agriculture
• Irrigation
• Industrial use
• Environmental restoration
• Potable water supplies

Cities, counties, and states rely on reused water for sustainability and water security purposes. According to the EPA, unplanned water reuse occurs when a municipality receives wastewater discharges from cities and towns upstream.  

Planned water reuse is more common. This form of water recycling refers to the active capture and cleaning of water. It is then reused for landscape irrigation, drinking water, or other purposes. 

Water Treatment Options

There are several means of recycling water. Each method removes solid particles and kills pathogens to ensure that the reclaimed water is not a health hazard to humans or animals.

Chlorine or some form of oxidation may be used to kill bacteria. Sludge treatment refers to any process that removes solid materials and particles from water. This form of biosolids management allows engineers to repurpose sewage.

Microorganisms break down organic materials like human waste, oil, food, and soap. After the microbes break down the organic material, workers can kill or remove the bacteria.

One simple process, sedimentation, allows particles to settle on the bottom of a storage tank. The sentiment is then removed, which leaves nearly pure water that can be further filtered. 

Benefits of Water Reclamation

Recycled water can be used for drinking water in certain circumstances. Not every type of water reuse is meant for drinking water. In parts of the country where groundwater levels are low, water reclamation can preserve aquafers.

For environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands, the preservation of natural water can protect species that live in those ecosystems. Many forms of water recycling also cut down on pollution. 

Reclaiming water helps the environment by lowering the need for draining rivers, streams, and other natural sources of water. Agriculture also benefits from water reuse. Many parts of the country are experiencing periodic or sustained periods of drought. 

Stay Current on Conservation News

Water reclamation allows cities and towns to repurpose water that would otherwise be wasted. While there are multiple techniques for cleaning and repurposing water, each technology has the aim of providing clean and sanitary water for communities. 

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