Raleigh, N.C., is about to begin a program to give away recycled water. According to NBC17.com, the city is in the first week of Stage 1 water restrictions for those who use water from the City of Raleigh.
About 45 million gallons of wastewater is treated every day in Raleigh, and the city now has plans to use it for specialized applications. The water is not intended for humans, but instead will be used for industrial and irrigation purposes.
The city’s water reuse supervisor told NBC17.com that those interested in using that water have been put through special classes.
The city expects to save thousands of gallons of water through this method. Additionally, Raleigh has bigger plans for piping that recycled water around the city.
Potential customers include golf courses, athletic fields, nurseries and parks, which will use the water to keep grass green. Currently Raleigh uses recycled water to grow soybean and corn for animal feed on land near the treatment plant.
It should take 30 years to build out the entire system, which will be constructed in seven phases. The estimated cost of the project is $86 million, with the first phase ready by 2010.
Source: NBC17.com
