TOILET TO TAP: Improving Public Perceptions of Potable Wastewater Reuse Agriculture Communication Project Pitch Ana Martin-Ryals, Agricultural & Biological Engineering Feb. 9, 2015 Lachine, P. “Facing the yuck factor”

Global Water Challenges 1.2 billion people live in areas of physical water scarcity billion people face economic water shortage 1 Water use is growing at more than twice the rate of population increase billion people lack adequate sanitation 2 Source: Veolia Water & IFPRI, 2011

Benefits of Wastewater Reuse Clean drinking water Sewage treatment, reduced contamination of fresh water resources Reduced cost, energy, and environmental impacts compared to conventional treatment More locational flexibility compared to conventional treatment & desalination Opportunity for energy recovery Relative Energy Intensity of Water Supply Options for Inland Empire Utilities Agency in Southern California 4

Sewage Water Potable Wastewater Reuse Technology "The quality from sewage is very good, as good or better than the tap water in any city in the developed world.“ - Benedito Braga, President of World Water Council 5 Membrane Filtration UV Disinfection Reverse Osmosis Carbon Filtration More Disinfection Adapted from McDonald, C. 2013

Reclamation in Action Bill Gates & The "Omniprocessor"Omniprocessor Singapore, NEWater reclamation facility Operating since 2003 Currently meets 30% of country’s water need Texas aims to generate 10% of all new water supplies through reclaimed water by 2060 California, Orange Country Water District: Reclamation currently supplements ground water $1 billion invested to fund recycling for direct potable use

Public Perceptions – Can they be improved? “Recycled water schemes have been historically shot down by public disgust at the concept” – CNN, 2014 Jimmy Fallon with Bill Gates Source:

References 1. Water Scarcity. United Nations department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2014) 2. Progress on Dinking Water and Sanitation, 2014 Update. World Health Organization and UNICEF. (2014) 3. Sustaining growth via water productivity: 2030/2050 scenarios. Veolia Water & IFPRI. (2011) 4. Klien, G., Krbs, M., Hall, V., O’Brien, T., Blevins, B. California's Water – Energy Relationship. California Energy Commission. (2005) 5. Monks, K. From toilet to tap: Getting a taste for drinking recycled waste water. CNN. (2014) 6. McDonald, C. Where water is scarce, cities look at ‘toilet to tap’. MySA San Antonio’s Home Page. (2013) 7. Duerr, R. Singapore’s ‘toilet to tap’ concept. Deutsche Welle. (2013) 8. Than, K. Reclaimed Wastewater for Drinking: Safe but Still a Tough Sell. National Geographic News. (2012) news.ntionalgepgraphic.com 9. Nusca, A. Without Sustainability, ‘Severe’ Water Scarcity by Smart Planet. (2011) Coren, M. Would You Drink Treated Sewage Water? Trick Question – You Already Are. (2012).