In Orange County,
Calif., a new water treatment plant sends highly-treated wastewater back into
the groundwater supply to serve as drinking water. In the city of San Diego, however,
a similar plan has faced public opposition. Jeffrey Kaye
reports on the ongoing debate over "toilet-to-tap" wastewater reuse.
Two
experts answered your questions about water recycling. Shivaji Deshmukh is a civil
engineer and program manager of the Orange County Water District's Groundwater
Replenishment System. Cheryl McGovern is the water recycling coordinator in the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region IX office.
At
Orange County new treatment plant, wastewater goes through an intensive three-step
process before it is delivered back into the groundwater supply. Learn more about
the treatment process in this slideshow.
