Pluris Professional Engineers have been invited by the Water Environment Federation to present a technical paper at WEFTEC, the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference, held annually. WEFTEC is the largest annual water quality event in the world and this year the event is in Chicago. Pluris’ paper entitled, “A Market Approach to Reuse Water” is authored by Michael C. Gallant, PE, President, Michael C. Gallant, PE, PA and Maurice W. Gallarda, PE, Managing Member of Pluris Holdings, LLC.
Demands for potable water have increased with increasing population growth in communities across the US and below ground water aquifers as well as lakes and streams are being stressed to keep pace with demand. One of the promising areas in the water market is that of reuse water generated from advanced wastewater treatment systems. These systems are capable of producing treated wastewater to a level approaching drinking water standards. Although the treated effluent cannot be used for drinking water, the quality allows for the water to be used for purposes including irrigation in commercial and residential developments, educational facilities such as school play grounds as well as public facilities for irrigation of street medians and public parks.
The direct benefit of reuse is that it helps reduce the stress on the existing potable water sources mentioned above. The problem is that there has been resistance in putting into place the necessary infrastructure to take advantage of reuse water.
This presentation will address incentives to investing in the infrastructure and Pluris, working with communities in North Carolina has initiated the first project where reuse water will be introduced into the market. Pluris has designed and built a number of membrane bio-reactor (“MBR”) wastewater treatment facilities and has several more in design.
Readers interested in learning more about reuse water and Pluris’ MBR facilities may contact Michael C. Gallant at [email protected]
