Pushing The Limits Of Recycled Water Use : Whitley Burchett

Pushing The Limits Of Recycled Water Use In California - Sink or Swim?

(Presented at the California Section WateReuse Conference,
Palm Springs, CA, March 2007)

Anita Jain: Whitley, Burchett & Associates
Alex Fortin: Whitley Burchett & Associates
Tom Gorman: Kennedy/Jenks Consultants
Robert Whitley: Whitley Burchett & Associates

ABSTRACT

Are we utilizing recycled water to its full potential? Are we replacing potable water with recycled water in as many applications as safely possible? The potential applications of recycled water are endless under Title 22. Recycled Water is commonly used throughout the state for irrigation of landscape and food crops, as well as for a variety of industrial and commercial uses. But if Title 22 - the most stringent water recycling criteria in the United States - has such latitude with where recycled water can be used, then are we really maximizing our use of recycled water and doing all that we can to preserve our drinking water supplies? At least one business in the City of Redwood City thinks not!

As the Redwood City Recycled Water Project team set out to sign up new landscape irrigation customers, one customer eagerly inquired if recycled water could be used beyond the reaches of their green lawns. A local hotel, a San Francisco Bay Area franchise of an international chain, approached the City with the request to use recycled water in various commercial and industrial applications at the site, some of which push the comfort zone of regulatory approval. In addition to the more common commercial and industrial recycled water applications of toilet flushing, cooling, and the less common laundry application, the Hotel is interested in using recycled water in their swimming pool and automatic dishwasher.

Why is the Hotel so forward thinking in its potential use of recycled water? In 2005, the Hotel used nearly 18.5 million gallons of water. Replacing drinking water with recycled water in toilet flushing, cooling, laundry, dish washing and the swimming pool would reduce the potable water demand by about 900,000 gallons per year, a demand reduction of nearly 5%. Through the Recycled Water Project, the Hotel would realize monetary savings and maximize the use of recycled water. The Hotel chain maintains a core business philosophy of sustainability. Using recycled water at the Hotel would provide economic benefits as well as further the Hotel’s image of environmental stewardship.

While the majority of the Hotel’s proposed recycled water applications are generally within the common Title 22 uses, swimming pool and commercial dishwashing use tend to push the limits of typical recycled water use. This presentation will detail the issues raised and the status of regulatory approval of these unique recycled water applications.