Effluent, A “New” Water Source:
Asset or Problem
Duncan Patten, Montana State University
Roy Marler, Cascade College
Julie Stromberg, Arizona State University
The USGS report shows that in 2000, Americans used 408 billion gallons of
water per day, a number that has remained fairly stable since 1985 and a
sign that conservation is working. In the report, Estimated Use of Water in
the United States in 2000, USGS researchers found that the chief water
users for the Nation are power generation, agriculture and public water
supply.
Phoenix Multicity Wastewater 91 st Ave Treatment Facility
Several years ago, Salt River Organization of Governments built a stateof
theart wastewater treatment plant at 91st Avenue.
A majority of the reclaimed water produced by this plant is used by
the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Tres Rios and the Buckeye
Valley Irrigation District.
Approximately 13 to 20 billion gallons of excess reclaimed water is
generated each year and is allowed to flow down the Salt River.
The reclaimed water from the 91st Avenue Wastewater
Treatment Plant (WWTP) meets all applicable water quality
standards and is similar in quality to that of our raw drinking
water supplies.
Palo Verde Nuclear Power Generating Facility West of Phoenix
Use of Effluent for Cooling
Tres Rios Artificial Wetlands Near 91 st Ave Effluent Treatment Facility
Phoenix Effluent Treatment Facility Outflow Gates
0
2
4
6
8
Feb91
Aug91
Feb92
Aug92
Feb93
Aug93
Feb94
Aug94
Feb95
Aug95
Feb96
Aug96
Feb97
Aug97
Discharge (cms)
Monthly effluent discharge from MultiCities
Wastewater Treatment Plant into the Salt River.
Discharge recorded for years 1991 through 1997.
~ Discharge (cfs)
140
70
210
280
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
C2
C4
E1
E4
Location
Concentration (mg L1)
NH4 NO3 SRP
a
Surface Water
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
C2
C4
E1
E4
Location
Concentration (mg L1)
NH4 NO3 SRP
b
Groundwater
Surface and groundwater nutrient concentrations at (a) two cont