El Paso Water has been delivering reclaimed water to the community since 1963. Today, EPWater supplies golf courses, city parks, school grounds, apartment landscapes, construction, and industrial sites with over 5.83 million gallons per day of reclaimed water.
When did water recycling start?
The practice of recycling previously used water for secondary purposes has a long history. Early evidence of agricultural irrigation with wastewater can be found in Crete and Greece dating as far back as the early Bronze Age (3000 BC).
What system does El Paso have in place to recycle water?
Drinking treated sewage. Today, El Paso is ready to take the next step in expanding its water portfolio. It is building a closed loop system that will treat sewage water and turn it directly into drinking water. Among water professionals, it’s called “direct potable reuse” or “advanced purification.”
Where does the water in El Paso come from?
Sources: River water is supplied from the Rio Grande and makes up nearly half of El Paso’s potable water supply. The Rio Grande flows that are diverted in the El Paso area are primarily derived from snowmelt runoff in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.
Does El Paso have clean water?
El Paso uses chlorine to disinfect our drinking water. Chlorine has been used in municipal water in the U.S. since 1908, and it is the most effective way to ensure that water stays disinfected as it travels through water delivery systems. Chlorine prevents water-borne epidemics such as cholera, typhoid and hepatitis.
Why is recycled water bad?
Microbial pathogens in wastewater from sewage effluent are the major concern for human health when recycling water. The major groups of pathogens are: Bacteria (e.g. Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp) Viruses (e.g. Enteroviruses, Rotavirus, Hepatitis A)
Would you drink recycled water?
While recycled water is not approved for potable uses such as drinking, bathing and cooking, should someone accidentally use recycled water in this way, it is unlikely they will fall ill. In those situations it is recommended that people seek medical advice and inform Ballina Shire Council.
Will El Paso Texas run out of water?
While farmers rely on the Rio Grande for irrigation, much of the water that El Paso’s residents drink actually comes from aquifers deep below ground. These critical water sources are also in jeopardy. In 1979, the Texas Water Development Board projected that El Paso would run out of groundwater by 2031.
Can you drink water in El Paso?
Contrary to what you might hear in the news from other cities, drinking water is not a significant problem in El Paso.
Does El Paso have a water shortage?
In El Paso’s Lower Valley along the Rio Grande just north of the Mexico border, water is in short supply. While current drought levels are not as bad as they have been in previous years, area water officials, conservationists and residents remain nervous about water shortages that can affect crops and wildlife habitat.
How deep is the water table in El Paso TX?
The aquifer is encountered at an average depth of about 1,250 feet in a very small and limited area.
Why is El Paso dry?
Las Cruces and El Paso are both located in a region where temperatures are higher than cooler climates. This allows water from rainfall to dry quickly, leading to low humidity, dew points and essentially drier air.
How much groundwater is there in El Paso?
How Much Groundwater Is In El Paso? Hueco and Mesilla bolson aquifers within El Paso County currently provide the county with up to 6 million acre-feet of fresh ground water each year, which represents an annual rate of recharge.
Does El Paso Water have lithium?
A more extensive and current analysis of the lithium content of drinking waters carried out by the more sensitive atomic absorption spectrophotometry demonstrated that the high levels of lithium in El Paso and Amarillo were unchanged over the past decade. So, yes, we have a higher level of lithium in our water.
What is chromium 6 in drinking water?
Chromium-6 is highly toxic and has been found to cause allergic dermatitis, and stomach and gastrointestinal cancer in animals and humans. Used in the manufacture of stainless steel, textiles, anticorrosion coatings, and in leather tanning, it gets into drinking water through industrial pollution.
Can you get sick from reclaimed water?
In the United States, recycled water has been safely used since 1929, with no known cases of illness or allergies as a result.
Can recycled water make you sick?
Recycled water is perfectly safe to use around your home. Although we don’t recommend drinking it, don’t worry if you accidentally drink it. We treat it to a very high standard and it’s unlikely to make you sick.
Can dogs drink reclaimed water?
Tertiary treated recycled water is safe to drink for animals that will eventually become food for people. Therefore, it can also be considered safe for non-food animals, such as Fido in Burbank (as well as the residents of the L.A. Zoo) to drink as well.
Is it safe to eat vegetables watered with reclaimed water?
Reclaimed water can safely be used to water edible gardens, as long as the food is peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption. Drip irrigation is a recommended method of watering edible gardens.
Is tap water recycled urine?
Is Tap Water Recycled Pee? It is referred to as “recycled water” and can be used to irrigation or industry in the state of California.
Is toilet water GREY water?
Greywater is gently used water from your bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines. It is not water that has come into contact with feces, either from the toilet or from washing diapers. Greywater may contain traces of dirt, food, grease, hair, and certain household cleaning products.