Reclaiming what's used

All water on the planet is a product of recycling from the beginning of time: from lake and ocean evaporation, to cloud formation, to rain and snowfall, to aquifers and to rivers which flow back into lakes and oceans.

In other words, there is no "new" water.

At a much smaller scale, local water recycling is a growing and important part of the community's comprehensive water resource management strategy for the Truckee Meadows.

Locally, the Truckee River and groundwater aquifers provide the region with potable water, or drinking water. Potable water is used once and is then conveyed to water reclamation facilities where it is treated and transformed into a new resource called reclaimed water. Water reclamation, or water recycling, is the process of treating wastewater into water that can be used for non-potable purposes. Common applications for reclaimed water include commercial or agricultural irrigation, wetland restoration, dust control, and industrial use.

Reclaimed water in the Truckee Meadows is currently produced by three entities: City of Reno, City of Sparks, and Washoe County. There are three water reclamation facilities that produce reclaimed water: Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF), Reno Stead Water Reclamation Facility (RSWRF), and South Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (STMWRF). In fact, 100% of reclaimed water from STMWRF is used for irrigation.

Reclaimed water is a valuable asset for the community. When irrigation peaks in the summer, reclaimed water produced in the Truckee Meadows provides about 10% of the total water supply used in the region.

In the Truckee Meadows, using reclaimed water helps preserve traditional water resources (lakes, rivers, creeks and groundwater) for potable uses, such as drinking, cooking, and other vital needs.

Reclaimed water has many benefits, these include:

• Reduced demand on potable surface water and groundwater resources.
• Increased water supply for commercial landscapes, construction, and other industry uses.
• Decreased treated wastewater discharge into fresh water sources.
• Uses for wetland restoration.
• An additional irrigation source for agricultural land.

Depending on its intended use, the process of reclaiming water has a progression of treatment steps, requirements, and regulations that must be met. These can vary by state. In Nevada, there are six categories of reclaimed water based on water quality requirements that are approved for a defined set of uses, as shown below. In the Truckee Meadows, two of these are currently in use (Category A and B).

In December 2016, after a thorough regulatory review process led by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Nevada formally recognized a new category of reclaimed water called Category A+, or Advanced Purified Water.

To become Advanced Purified Water these rigorous water quality standards must be fulfilled:

1. Meet all national primary drinking water regulations.
2. Meet all Nevada secondary maximum contaminant levels.
3. Demonstrate specific reductions for pathogens.
4. Undergo monitoring for unregulated constituents (e.g. pharmaceuticals, personal care products).

Once all safe drinking water requirements are met, the purified water is introduced into local groundwater aquifers for an extended period of time. This part of the process adds an environmental barrier and allows for an additional treatment step, as purified water undergoes natural filtration while flowing through the aquifer. The end result is water so pure that it is suitable for potable use.

In the Truckee Meadows, Advanced Purified Water is the subject of a feasibility study for the purpose of groundwater replenishment and as a potential option to further diversify the region's water portfolio. This exploratory effort is guided by a collaboration of regional stakeholders and water resource management experts called OneWater Nevada.

The current feasibility study, permitted by NDEP, offers OneWater Nevada the opportunity to:

• Safely evaluate the feasibility of reliably producing advanced purified water.
• Test and validate advanced water treatment technologies.
• Operate proven treatment processes and groundwater recharge concurrently at a small, controlled scale.
• Monitor water quality and conduct extensive data analyses.
• Engage with regulators, policymakers, professional associations, and the public.

This feasibility study is permitted until fall of 2020. The outcomes of the research will be reported back to NDEP in spring 2021.

Where is advanced water purification already in use?

Today dozens of communities across the nation are either using, or are working to establish the viability of, Advanced Purified Water in their local environments. Some of the most current information about reclaimed water programs and initiatives can be found through WateReuse, a national association that also publishes weekly newsletters.

The map below shows current known projects and demonstration studies, as captured in a January 2020 WateReuse Florida report.