Industrial Use of Renovated Municipal Wastewater

Abstract

A survey of industries in the United States revealed that twenty-two plants are presently using renovated municipal wastewater. Eleven industries have discontinued the usage, one because of the recent availablity of a fresh water source of high quality, two because of operational difficulties, and the remaining eight due to business relocation or closure or inadequate wastewater availability. One industry was identified which is planning to start using renovated wastewater in 1972. The vast majority of the industries are receiving municipal effluent after secondary wastewater treatment. Of the twenty-two industries using the renovated wastewater, fourteen provide additional inplant treatment, besides chlorination. Pilot plant investigations at Contra Costa County, California, indicated that renovated municipal wastewater used for industrial cooling purposes compares favorably with the Contra Costa Canal water presently being used by local industry.