Water Recycling - The Future is Here!

Everyday, water is wasted through baths, showers, doing the dishes and flushing the toilet. But what if that water could be treated and reused? In the world, there is about one percent of water available for drinking. That same water is not just used for drinking; it is also used for all household functions. Recycling water is not new in nature, but has come to the forefront again as countries are re-evaluating their water needs. While some countries already participate in water recycling, other countries are unsure about trying it because the thought of drinking waste water is unappealing. Unfortunately the environment is in a tailspin towards global warming, so every effort should be made towards recycling. Although initially expensive to create and still somewhat controversial, water treatment facilities are important because they recycle already used water, save millions of gallons each day, and protect the environment from further harm.

There are at least two different types of treatment facilities. In one type of facility, the waste water goes through a series of vats in the chemical process until at last it comes out clean. The water is tested before being sent out for reuse. A newer type of treatment facility is a man made “natural wetland”. Gravel and rock are put down with dirt. The waste water is placed on top and plants that are chosen because they help out the environment are planted. As the soil begins to break down, water trickles into pipes laid in the ground. The plants help by breaking down the waste quicker through sunlight and the natural oxygen they produce. The chemical process is the most popular process to use, but people are starting to realize that recycling naturally is not only better for the environment but it is the natural process. The earth already recycles water naturally, so we should as well.

With an ongoing drought in several countries including America, the idea of saving water is becoming more attractive not only to residents but also to lawmakers and politicians. Right now Denver, Colorado is struggling to integrate a new system in which to recycle waste water. The price tag for a new system is right around one billion dollars, however, they expect to welcome another three million people into the state within the next five years. In order to meet future water needs, they need to make a decision now regarding their water use. With installing a new system, they hope to double the amount of treated water they currently use. Cheyenne, Wyoming uses their treated water to water the parks. They estimate that they save over one million gallons of water each day by using treated water. Australia is at the fore front of the debate right now as two cities fight over whether they really want to drink recycled water. The politicians are ready to implement the 68 million dollar facility to treat the water but residents are not ready yet. They are unsure about the idea of drinking purified waste water or as science.org put it, “thinking that the water in the glass in your hand might have started off in someone’s toilet bowl”.

With only approximately one percent of water available for consumption on the earth, measures should be taken to protect our environment. We should look at the environment as a legacy for our children. If we don’t take care of it now, then what is left for our children? With global warming as a huge threat in the future and our water supply slowly dwindling as glaciers continue to melt at an ever quickening pace; we need to turn towards water recycling as a means for protecting not only the environment but our water supplies as well.

When thinking of recycling, one does not readily think of water conservation. In fact, it would probably be last on the list with paper, glass, and aluminum first. However, water is very important to a healthy environment and planet. Without water, our planet cannot survive. It is important to put up with the expense of saving water now, than spending more in the future trying to save what was lost. We should quit being selfish and start thinking about our children and even grandchildren’s future. What legacy are we leaving them? Are we leaving them a beautiful environment or a desert wasteland?



Works Cited

Smith, Jared. “Sticker shock: $1 billion for water”. Rocky Mountain News. 26 Sep. 2007
Rocky Mountain News. 26 Sep. 2007. http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/
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Associated Press. “Water recycling in Cheyenne saves 1 million gallons a day”. Local
News 8. 1 Sep. 2007. World Now. 26 Sep. 2007. http://www.localnews8.com/
Global/story.asp?S=7015628

Integrated Water Strategies. Water Recycling. 2007. 26 Sep.2007. http://waterrecycling.
Com/wastewater-basics

Triangle School Wastewater Treatment Facility. Alternative wastewater treatment. 26
Sep. 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20041204041451/www.waterrecycling.com
/index.htm

Australian Academy of Science. “Making every drop count”. Nova: Science in the news.
Aug 2006. Nova. 26 Sep 2007. http://www.science.org.au/nova/095/095print.htm