Laserfiche WebLink
<br />MWSI Project <br />Phase II Effluent Management Summary Report - DRAFT <br /> <br />Definitions <br /> <br />August 22, 1995 <br /> <br />For purposes of this report, effluent is defined as water that has been previously <br />used for municipal and industrial purposes. There are two major sources of effluent in <br />the study area: discharge from waste water treatment plants and urban irrigation return <br />flows. These are the two sources which will be considered here. The vast majority of the <br />total effluent in the study area is generated as waste water discharge. <br /> <br />In general, effluent must be legally reusable order to be used to increase water <br />supplies. Reusable effluent is typically derived from three types of water sources: <br />transbasin water, nontributary groundwater and water derived from changed irrigation <br />rights. (However, not all transbasin water is reusable, as discussed in later sections of <br />this document.) <br /> <br />Hierarcbical Model of Effluent Managemenl Concepls <br /> <br />In an effort to systematically consider opportunities for effluent management, a <br />hierarchical model of effluent management concepts has been developed. The hierarchy <br />developed for this investigation is described below. <br /> <br />Comprehensive Framework for Effluent Management <br /> <br />The management of municipal effluent contains both a water quality and water <br />supply component, as shown in Figure 3. From a water supply perspective, the challenge <br />is typically perceived as how to use effluent to increase water supply through various <br />reuse or exchange schemes, while from a water quality perspective the goal has <br />traditionally been to economically dispose of effluent in a manner that does not violate <br />water quality standards. Recently the water quality management perspective has <br />broadened to view effluent as a recyclable source of agricultural nutrients. <br /> <br />While the purpose of the MWSI Project is focused on water supply, it is important <br />to keep these dual aspects of effluent management in mind, as it may be possible to <br />achieve significant water quality benefits and reductions in wastewater treatment costs as <br />part of an effluent management plan designed primarily for water supply purposes. <br /> <br />10 <br />