Would you drink purified sewage?

[kstar]

Well, would you?

You OC folks will get the privilege!



From Wired: http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/multimedia/2008/01/gallery_sewage_plant

New Purification Plant Answers California's Water Crisis
By Dave Bullock
01.25.08 | 8:00 PM
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, California -- As Southern California faces a worsening water crisis, Orange County has implemented a $480 million microfiltration system so advanced it can turn waste water into drinking water. The Groundwater Replenishment System, which started pumping purified water on Jan. 10th, is the largest of its kind in the world and will provide water to more than 100,000 Orange County families for the same or less than buying it wholesale. And because sewage is diverted to the purification system, less waste is dumped into natural water supplies.

The new plant is likely to be the first of many as other cities in California, Texas and Florida consider similar plans. Read on as we follow the filtration process on 70 million gallons a day from beginning to end, where it's pumped into the Orange County basin aquifer.

[slodave]

That article is a little lacking. There was an article in the L.A. Times a few weeks ago:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-reclaim2jan02,1,732425.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

It's not as bad as it sounds.

[HardDrive]

I thought this post was going to be about Bud Light.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by slodave

That article is a little lacking. There was an article in the L.A. Times a few weeks ago:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-reclaim2jan02,1,732425.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

It's not as bad as it sounds.

Yeah, you have to hit the Wired link and follow the llinks to get the whole story.

Basically they put the purified sewage back into the ground, then you drink it later as it is mixed with "regular" water.

I am sure it's fine, but it creates a psychological problem for me.

Best,

Kurt

[slodave]

Treated waste water is already release into the ocean, that water evaporates and falls back down as rain. The rain flows into rivers, becomes bottled water... Ever been backpacking? We always treat stream/river water before using it. Only when it came out at the source, did we drink it without treating. It'll be fine.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by slodave

Treated waste water is already release into the ocean, that water evaporates and falls back down as rain. The rain flows into rivers, becomes bottled water... Ever been backpacking? We always treat stream/river water before using it. Only when it came out at the source, did we drink it without treating. It'll be fine.

I know, but it seems the OC method takes some of those natural steps out!

Would you drink purified sewage right from a spigot at the plant? Poop in, drinking water out? That's what "gets" me.



Best,

Kurt

[slodave]

I won't even drink the water coming out of the tap at home.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

You already do. You breathe air exhaled by who-knows-how-many other people too. It just accelerates a natural process of filtration. If it's done properly, I don't see the problem.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

When I lived in L.A., the water was horrendous and I never drank the tap water straight. It tasted awful. At the very least I'd Brita-filter it or sometimes we bought the Sparklett's stuff.

Long Beach actually has pretty good domestic water quality. I read the reports in their entirety when they show up every year and I'm actually pretty impressed with the job this city does with the water quality (especially given that it's a big city, has a lot of pollution sources from the port and LA River discharge, etc.) I still Brita-filter it, but you actually don't need to. Unlike the L.A. water, you can actually drink the Long Beach stuff right from the tap without gagging.

Best water I ever had was when I lived in Oregon (predictably).

[legion]

If you think about it, we are already.

[Rick Lee]

Have you guys heard the report about kids these days having more cavities because so few people drink tapwater anymore and thus don't get the flouride that's mixed in with it? Everyone drinks bottled water now.

[Mule]

Astronauts drink purified urine, don't they?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by legion

If you think about it, we are already.

It's true even if you "don't" think about it

[legion]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

For years now, I have not trusted tap water. Ever since I read articles on allowable concentrations of arsenic and other chemicals that are not too safe. I don't want to drink it for 50 years (and feed it to my kids), only to find out that there was some bad plume that contaminated the water with some chemical they forgot to test for, or couldn't detect. I drink Sparkletts almost exclusively - I don't really trust "mountain spring water" either. At least the Sparkletts stuff is commercial, which means they go out of business if someone screws up and Consumer Reports or someone else finds something wrong with the water. I don't think problems with the water would surface as quickly with a public works system.

-Wayne

Yeah, I expect dihydrogen monoxide levels in our drinking water to go way up as a result of this.

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

What are some of the dangers associated with DHMO?
Each year, Dihydrogen Monoxide is a known causative component in many thousands of deaths and is a major contributor to millions upon millions of dollars in damage to property and the environment. Some of the known perils of Dihydrogen Monoxide are: Death due to accidental inhalation of DHMO, even in small quantities.

• Prolonged exposure to solid DHMO causes severe tissue damage.
• Excessive ingestion produces a number of unpleasant though not typically life-threatening side-effects.
• DHMO is a major component of acid rain.
• Gaseous DHMO can cause severe burns.
• Contributes to soil erosion.
• Leads to corrosion and oxidation of many metals.
• Contamination of electrical systems often causes short-circuits.
• Exposure decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes.
• Found in biopsies of pre-cancerous tumors and lesions.
• Given to vicious dogs involved in recent deadly attacks.
• Often associated with killer cyclones in the U.S. Midwest and elsewhere, and in hurricanes including deadly storms in Florida, New Orleans and other areas of the southeastern U.S.
• Thermal variations in DHMO are a suspected contributor to the El Nino weather effect.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by legion

Yeah, I expect dihydrogen monoxide levels in our drinking water to go way up as a result of this.

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

That site is awesome.

[notfarnow]

I'm on a well, and I always thought that meant I had clean water.

I had it tested a few months ago, and was shocked to find my water is filthy with DHMO. We've been drinking, cooking, washing it in for years. scary!

Surely there is something on the market to filter the DHMO out of water!

[kstar]

I am sick about this!

I have been letting my daughter drink and bathe in DHMO laden water since she was born!

What to do now? It's probably too late . . .

[dipso]

Its a dirty world.
Urine is sterile, and you can eat feces if you had to.
It is a little gross but I'm sure it would be O.K. once treated.
There are so many things that we inhale or ingest that are "bad" for us. What's the harm in one more?
Can't live forever, right?

[M.D. Holloway]

Most everyone has been for tohe past several decades - water is safer now than any time in history.

[Flatbutt1]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

.... If it's done properly, I don't see the problem.

bingo. perhaps it would be better used for crops, manufacturing,coolong towers etc?