A glass of effluent, Sir?

Makes you smack your lips in anticipation ? NOT!

Britons must drink recycled sewage ? report
18 October 2006

LONDON: Britain needs to use more recycled effluent as drinking water if it is to deal with a long-term shortage crisis, a report said today.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) said using treated sewage was one radical suggestion that needed to be pursued if the country was deal with the growing problem. It also called for a rise in spending on infrastructure along with price rises of up to 20 per cent to fund the replacement of old, leaky pipes, particularly in London.

Many UK water companies were forced to impose tough restrictions on water usage this summer, banning the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, because of low reservoir levels. The Environment Agency said southeast England had endured its worst drought for a century.

"Parts of the UK are experiencing long term water shortages, so we need a range of solutions to keep the water running," said John Lawson, the ICE's Water Board chairman. "Effluent water reuse is still a relatively untapped way of providing drinking water to meet growing long term needs."

Sewage can be turned into drinking water by processes which sieve and then chemically clean the water so it can be put back into rivers to be re-treated for human consumption.

In its annual State of the Nation report, ICE also suggested compulsory water metering to encourage users to save water in areas where it was scarce, together with the building of new reservoirs and desalination plants.

"Water consumer prices will have to rise to pay for new infrastructure ? an uncomfortable fact customers, the government and regulators must recognise," Lawson said. "We currently pay less for our water than many of our European neighbours ? something that will have to change to keep our taps from running dry."

However Water UK, a body which represents Britain's water companies, said the ICE report gave a "false analysis" of future resources and accused it of "sensationalism".

"While the industry, its regulators and the government keep all potential supply measures under review to ensure security of supply, there is no intention or need to change the current policy on effluent reuse," Water UK said in a statement.

- Reuters

There should be no worries if the water is properly treated. I've heard of some municipalities that inject the treated water into the ground, so it gets just a bit more cleaning (mostly psychological) before being drawn on. In our neighboring city of Arcata, a marsh was constructed to serve as the tertiary treatment. It is a thriving wildlife habitat, and attracts wildlife watchers from all over. I've never smelled anything "off", even from the main treatment plant. After passing through several ponds, the water is released into the bay.

There should be no worries if the water is properly treated.

I think it's just the thought of where the water's come from that puts me off a bit. [smiley=undecided.gif]

Have beaten you to this one, Mother Bear! ;D

Couple launch water from sewage filter
26 October 2006
By ALAN WOOD

A Christchurch couple have created a filtration system they say can turn sewage-polluted water into drinking water.

Russell Kelly yesterday put his water filter system to work, with a rough mix of foul water. He collected water from the Avon River then "took some of the raw sewage from the Bromley sewerage and mixed it and I drank it, and several others did the same thing".

The system has taken four years to develop.

Kelly and his wife, Sue, say they have had approaches for the system's use from the nomadic Masai tribes via the Kenyan Government. Pedal-powered, gravity fed, or generator-driven, his filter systems had no need for electricity, said Kelly.

Having lived in Kashmir on the India-Pakistan border, and having travelled widely through Asia, the Kellys came back to Christchurch to develop the system.

"It's our experience overseas that actually prompted us to do something about it because we saw people in villages with children dying just for the sake of safe water."

[quote]Have beaten you to this one, Mother Bear! ? ;D

Indeed you have, Glenda. Now I can go out shopping and leave the forum in your very capable hands. [smiley=eusa_dance.gif]

I'm still not 100% about drinking water from sewerage though, but I think it's a wonderful thing for people in third world countries who are dying from lack of clean water. It's purely pschycological on my part, as I can never believe they will be able to remove every trace of bacteria from the water. Of course, if I was thirsty enough I would certainly drink it. [smiley=Yes.gif]

Oh, there's no denying the psychological impact of drinking treated effluent. But we all may need to get used to the idea before too long. I know here in the US we use an awful lot of water, and many sources are being spread quite thin. We may live to see the era of water wars.