How Much Does Recycled Water Actually Help?

In various parts of the United States, recycled water systems have been implemented in order to save resources and money. This is especially common in areas that have desert-like environments, such as many parts of California. But how much money does this actually save, and how much does it benefit the environment?

Most studies show that recycled water is generally cheap, coming in at around 32 cents per cubic meter. Also, in States closer to the ocean, it is much cheaper than desalination efforts. Turning salt water into fresh water for agricultural use comes in at 50 cents per cubic meter, which is almost 1.5 times the price of recycled water. In a time where water is always used in bulk, the price spent on water can add up exponentially. Considering this, recycling water can prove a large benefit to the property developers, city managers, and many others who have only so much money to spend on resources.

Also, recycling water has environmental benefits. In States such as California, there are historic cycles of drought. Because of this, it is important to avoid straining the water sources that are already present. By reusing the water from storm drains and wastewater, it may slow down water consumption and decrease the chances of drought. This can also help surrounding wildlife, as many plants and animals can survive without the threat of a drought.

But how clean is recycled water. Many cleaning methods used for recycling water may not clean out all the bacteria and pollutants that make it safe for drinking, but it may make it safe for watering plants. But in the future, developing technology may make all waste water and storm water safe for drinking. It has been proven that reverse osmosis technology is able to make wastewater as clean as groundwater, which is known as the cleanest form of water.

As water processing develops, we may see major shifts to use recycled water everywhere. But with our technology today, which has been often regarded as easy to implement, engineers in drought prone areas should feel inclined to integrate recycled water for its environmental and economic benefits.