Advanced Water Purification is a logical and necessary step forward

Local municipal water providers are always looking for innovative ways to bolster and stretch their water supplies. A practical option for our communities is to maximize the use of recycled water through advanced purified water treatment technology. Water managers recognize that this approach is efficient and cost-effective on a large scale, and it would increase local water supplies. This is particularly crucial as we face a prolonged drought, Colorado River shortages, and challenges related to groundwater management.

The concept of purified recycled wastewater for drinking can raise concerns for those who do not fully understand it, so we would like to provide clarification and address several factual inaccuracies to help set the record straight. 

Water recycling is not new

• For decades, water providers have been collecting and treating wastewater so that it can be reused over and over again. This process usually involves discharging treated wastewater into a groundwater basin, river, or lake before withdrawing it and channeling it through a pipeline for further treatment and distribution. This process is called indirect potable reuse.
• NASA has utilized Advanced Water Purification (AWP), also known as Direct Potable Reuse (DPR), for over half a century. This treatment process is used or is being pursued in Singapore, Australia, the Middle East, India, Texas, Florida, and California. Several Phoenix-area cities are also planning to implement Advanced Water Purification in the near term because it offers a safe, reliable, robust, and renewable water supply.
• The science and technology utilized to clean and treat water supplies have played a crucial role in shaping our modern world. These advancements ensure the provision of safe, clean water for drinking, sanitation, and industrial processes, significantly improving public health and quality of life. 

“Toilet to Tap” really is a misleading label

• The phrase “toilet to tap” may generate catchy headlines or quick laughs, but it misrepresents the actual process. Water that has already passed through a home’s plumbing system does not go directly back to your faucet. Instead, it undergoes several stages of treatment as it is recycled. This process may also involve passing through natural environmental buffers or being stored in aquifers or reservoirs.
• There is also a common assumption that water from rivers and lakes is somehow “cleaner” than recycled water. In reality, surface water must be treated due to the various contaminants, including waste from humans, animals, and natural runoff from upstream cities, wildlife, agricultural activities, and even storm drains. This is why all drinking water, whether from a river or a toilet, is treated before it reaches your home.
• Advanced Water Purification (AWP) elevates water treatment to the next level. The technology that is used goes beyond what conventional water treatment does. It includes microfiltration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet disinfection, and advanced oxidation methods that remove contaminants at the molecular level, including viruses, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics. This results in water that is as pure or even purer than most bottled water.

AWP is the next logical step and necessary step

• AWP is safe and reliable: AWP utilizes multiple treatment methods to further purify the water. The result is purified water that is cleaner than most bottled water and complies with or exceeds strict state and federal drinking water standards. 
• AWP enhances water security: This water source is a drought-proof supply. It can improve water supply reliability by providing a more immediate and direct source of drinking water than indirect potable reuse or water sources stressed by drought or shortage.  
• AWP is more cost-effective on a large scale: The proposed regional facility for the Phoenix metropolitan area will need to treat approximately 80 million gallons of water daily. That is an amount that indirect potable reuse cannot meet. Additionally, it eliminates the need for storage and recovery, resulting in further savings. AWP would not require expanding the separate infrastructure used to convey non-potable water to certain end-users, such as golf courses and industrial facilities.  
• AWP is more flexible in a changing climate: AWP is less sensitive to climate-related challenges, such as prolonged droughts, and can reduce our reliance on other water supplies.

Advanced Water Purification is not merely a theoretical possibility but an undeniable reality. This additional water will empower many desert communities to become more resilient to drought conditions by providing a dependable source of safe drinking water, even during dry periods, while helping to increase the local water supply and ensuring a consistent and reliable source of drinking water.

We understand the “ick factor” is real, which is why water providers, such as the City of Phoenix , that are investing in AWP have launched a comprehensive public outreach campaign to educate and address the concerns of their community. They have also partnered with the University of Arizona on a statewide DPR acceptability study, allowing residents to share their views and learn the facts from scientists and water professionals, rather than just relying on headlines.

Local water providers have diversified their water supply portfolios, stored groundwater, and reused nearly all treated wastewater, while also investing in long-term planning. Utilizing Advanced Water Purification is the next logical and necessary step.

For 56 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities' ability to provide assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies to their communities. For more water information, visit www.amwua.org .