Listen to the podcast.

Water Recycling

WITH A LITTLE HELP AND A LOT OF FILTRATION, YOUR SEWAGE WATER MAY BECOME GOOD ENOUGH TO DRINK.  LEARN MORE ABOUT WATER RECYCLING ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

YOU MIGHT CRINGE WHEN YOU FIRST HEAR THE IDEA, BUT SOME EXPERTS SAY THAT IT’S A GREAT WAY TO HELP CONSERVE OUR WATER RESOURCES. 

ERIC ROSENBLUM, DIVISION MANAGER OF SOUTH BAY WATER RECYCLING FOR THE CITY OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, SAYS AFTER WASTEWATER PASSES THROUGH VERY FINE MEMBRANES DURING PROCESSES SUCH AS MICROFILTRATION AND REVERSE OSMOSIS, IT’S AS CLEAN AS FILTERED RIVER WATER. 

SO HOW FINE IS ONE OF THESE MEMBRANES?

ROSENBLUM: IT’S A MILLION TIMES FINER THAN A HUMAN HAIR.  BUT IF IT WERE THE SIZE OF A HUMAN HAIR, COMPARED TO THAT, A VIRUS WOULD BE THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL AND A BACTERIA WOULD BE THE SIZE OF A PICKUP TRUCK.

SUCH TECHNIQUES ARE PARTICULARLY BENEFICIAL – AND MAY EVEN BECOME NECESSARY - IN AREAS WHERE FUTURE WATER SHORTAGES ARE PREDICTED.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Learn more from the EPA.

Read more about South Bay Water Recycling.