Project Explores Conventional Treatment of Storm Water, Greywater & Treated Wastewater

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) announced a new project to determine water quality parameter ranges that protect public health and enable utilities to expand their water supplies by utilizing conventional treatment of storm water, greywater and treated wastewater.

Seawater, brackish water and, more recently, potable reuse of treated wastewater are increasingly used to diversify and improve the sustainability of water supply portfolios. Of late, there has been much discussion about the expanded use of storm water and greywater to bolster public water supply diversity and sustainability, while leveraging green storm water infrastructure programs. However, much of the prior research into reuse of storm water and greywater has focused on on-site, non-potable reuse.

This project—Conventional Drinking Water Treatment of Alternative Water Sources: Source Water Requirements (project #4665)—will study these alternative sources to assess their viability as a potable water supply. The emphasis will be on storm water and greywater, which are less-researched alternatives, but will also include information on wastewater treatment plant effluent.

“Storm water, greywater and treated wastewater reuse could be a significant option to help utilities expand their water supply portfolio,” said Rob Renner, CEO of WRF. “More utilities could have access to these alternative supplies if it is determined that conventional treatment is a viable option to treat some of these sources.”

The principal investigator for this project is Christopher P. Hill, PE, BCEE, ENV SP, vice president, Water Division, Arcadis U.S. Inc. The co-principal investigators are Douglas M. Owen, PE, BCEE, ENV SP, president, Owen Water Consulting LLC; and R. Shane Trussell, Ph.D., PE, BCEE, president, Trussell Technologies Inc.

Source: Water Research Foundation