Energy Positive Water Resource Recovery Workshop Report
On April 28–29, 2015 the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and National Science Foundation jointly hosted the Energy-Positive Water Resource Recovery (EPWRR) Workshop to envision a transition from the wastewater treatment facilities of today to a new generation of facilities. Stakeholders from industry, academia, national laboratories, and government met at NSF headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, to discuss barriers to the development and deployment of water resource recovery facilities of the future. The workshop report presents a synopsis of the perspectives and ideas generated by the experts who attended the workshop.
Continuing to reliably transport and treat wastewater and deliver clean drinking water will require massive investments, about $600 billion over the next 20 years. This need offers an opportunity to rethink the design and functionality of water management infrastructure. The workshop report identifies options that build on existing industry efforts to effectively manage more diverse waste streams, generate fuel, produce water and fertilizer, and recover other valuable resources. Proposed strategies to go from current conditions to the industry of the future included the efficient use and recovery of resources, coordination of utilities with other community services, engagement of customers and the public in new ways, and deployment of smart technology. Workshop participants identified key challenges, specifically regulatory, technical, social, and financial. Research priorities described in the report would address these challenges. The full report can be downloaded from http://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/10/f27/epwrr_workshop_report.pdf.
Green Infrastructure Wizard
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA has released the Beta test version of new web-based tool, the Green Infrastructure Wizard, or GIWiz. GIWiz is an interactive web application that connects communities to EPA Green Infrastructure tools and resources. Green infrastructure uses natural landscapes to manage water and provide environmental and community benefits. With growing community interest in using green infrastructure as a means of addressing water quality and a range of other local goals, the EPA consulted local, state and tribal partners to develop this new tool. Its self-guided format allows users to learn the basics of green infrastructure; explore financing options, visualize and design green infrastructure, learn about using green infrastructure to revitalize neighborhoods and enhance land use; and develop public education and outreach campaigns. EPA is inviting input on this Beta version, with the goal of making continued improvements going forward. Find GWiz at http://www.epa.gov/communityhealth/green-infrastructure-wizard.
Using Graywater and Stormwater to Enhance Local Water Supplies: An Assessment of Risks, Costs, and Benefits
National Academies of Sciences, Committee on the On-Site Reuse of Graywater and Stormwater, December 16, 2015
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has released a major report by the Committee on the On-Site Reuse of Graywater and Stormwater, “Using Graywater and Stormwater to Enhance Local Water Supplies: An Assessment of Risks, Costs, and Benefits.” Graywater is untreated wastewater from bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, washers, and laundry sinks, while stormwater is rainfall or snowmelt runoff from roofs, parking areas, and other impermeable surfaces. According to this report graywater and stormwater could augment traditional potable water sources where drought and major water shortages affect supplies. However, there is a lack of information on the costs, benefits, risks, and regulation and a need for research and guidelines to frame appropriate responses to any risk to public health and the environment.
The report finds that there is no single best way to use graywater or stormwater to address local water needs, and many important considerations vary widely with local conditions. Best management practices are provided that account for differences in situation and scale. Committee analyses covered the amount of additional water potentially available, the risks associated with use, the costs and benefits of capturing and using these water resources, and legal and regulatory issues.
The pre-publication report in PDF (44.4MB) may be downloaded at no cost from http://www.nap.edu/catalog/21866/using-graywater-and-stormwater-to-enhance-local-water-supplies-an.
Sensitivity of Intermittent Streams to Climate Variations in the USA
by K. Eng, D.M. Wolock and M.D. Dettinger.
River Research and Applications, 2015
A new USGS study published in the journal River Research and Applications presents an extensive analysis of intermittent streams and describes their sensitivity to past climate. The study focused on the western plains and southwest United States where such streams are prevalent. Five distinct types of intermittent streams were identified for this study, each with a different mixture of the physical processes that resulted in periods of no-flow. The temporal patterns of streamflow were shown to closely reflect climatic patterns. The article can be accessed online at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rra.2939/full.