El Paso leading the way with water reclamation

treated for non-potable use

Jay Blazek Crossley, Jan 10, 12.

El Paso’s four water treatment plants that reclaim effluent water, treat it to be suitable for non-drinking use, such as watering parks, landscaping, and construction projects, are seeing worldwide attention as water conservation rises in policy concerns, according to North Texas E-News:

EPWU maintains four wastewater reclamation plants, and each plant yields treated effluent for nonpotable use, suitable for customers to apply to parks, sports fields, landscape nurseries, golf courses, construction projects and many other situations. Some of the treated wastewater is used for industrial processes, and EPWU recharges some of it back into the aquifer. All of the plants meet Texas Commission on Environmental Quality water quality regulations, Rojas said.

“This program started back in the 1960s, when the city began using treated effluent to irrigate the golf course,” Rojas said. “And slowly the program became more aggressive, eventually using treated effluent for industrial and construction uses, in addition to irrigation.”

The program has grown over the years, and now 44 percent of the EPWU reclaimed water is used for irrigation, 37 percent for industrial processes, 19 percent for aquifer recharge and small percentages for construction.

Research conducted by the Texas AgriLife Research Center in El Paso in close partnership with EPWU has frequently provided scientific support for the reclaimed water program. Through continued research, the center has produced several reports on effective uses of reclaimed water and landscape management.

According to EPWU, since its water conservation ordinance was established in 1991, its conservation and reclaimed water programs have saved 231 billion gallons of water, which is enough water to fill the Sun Bowl 6,392 times.