The US Water Research Foundation has shared preliminary findings from its ongoing research into the impact of blending variables on direct potable reuse water.
The aim of the work is to provide guidance for the appropriate use of blending as part of a direct potable reuse project.
The bench-scale study of treatments and distribution systems has generated three key findings so far: blending with direct potable reuse waters may help to lower trihalomethanes; blended water quality and bacterial activity appear to be predominant factors for corrosion products in premise plumbing tests; and antibiotic resistance gene composition in direct potable reuse blends appears similar or better than in potable water tests.
The simulations are based on the full scale processes of participating utilities Santa Clara Valley Water District, City of Ventura, Clark County Water Reclamation District, and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. The parameters being tested include pathogens, emerging contaminants, regulated contaminants, corrosion-related issues, and general parameters such as pH and turbidity.