Full Description

The use of reclaimed water is becoming increasingly common as water and wastewaterutilities seek to use water resources more efficiently, meet wastewater disposalrequirements, and accommodate system growth in the absence of other potable watersources. But when does the direct distribution and use of reclaimed water make economicsense? This paper examines the use of five alternative economic analyses to examine thisquestion:a customer specific analysis that estimates the economics of providing reclaimed waterservice to specific types of customers (e.g., a new residential development, a localirrigation customer);a plant specific analysis that estimates the economics of distributing reclaimed waterfrom a specific reclaimed water plant;an avoided cost analysis that estimates the economics of reclaimed water based onavoided potable water system costs;a net present value analysis that examines the current worth of future reclaimed waterand avoided potable water system operations; and,a water rights mitigation analysis that examines the use of reclaimed water for use inobtaining additional potable water rights.A case study using information from the LOTT Wastewater Alliance in Thurston County,Washington examines the use of these five economic analyses. Among the conclusionsreached in the study is the importance of the type and amount of reclaimed water use bypotential reclaimed water customers, the distribution infrastructure required to provide thatservice, and the length of the irrigation season in determining the economic viability of thedirect distribution and use of reclaimed water. Includes tables, figure.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 06/15/2003 Number of Pages: 14File Size: 1 file , 310 KB