The city council for Graham, Texas has been advised that reusing effluent would be the most cost effective and efficient water conservation option and plan.
Graham’s city officials were told by a consultant advisor that city will need a new water source besides Lake Graham by 2016 if current drought conditions persist. So the council is looking to make a reuse project possible.
Graham’s public works director David Casteel said: “Our consultant tells us that in 18-20 months if things continue like they are that we’ll have some issues to address. Any of the three options we discussed take about 18 months to implement.”
Graham was awaiting approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to sell treated effluent to neighbouring oil companies and farmers. But city officials were also looking into expanding their use of recycled water through an indirect potable reuse project.
Tapping into groundwater has been deemed not viable. As Graham’s water supply continues to dwindle the decision to move forward with a plan needs to be made soon said Casteel who urged the city councillors to vote on moving forward with the reuse project soon.
Another Texas-Oklahoma border city, Wichita Falls, recently got the go-ahead for its potable water reuse project from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.