World's Largest 'Toilet To Tap' Plant Debuts In Southern California

With the opening of the new facility, water officials in Orange County, California are launching a large scale program to recycle sewage for use as drinking water for millions. Other water scarce areas are watching closely.

1 minute read

November 28, 2007, 7:00 AM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera

"It used to be so final: flush the toilet, and waste be gone.

But on Nov. 30, for millions of people here in Orange County, pulling the lever will be the start of a long, intense process to purify the sewage into drinking water - after a hard scrubbing with filters, screens, chemicals and ultraviolet light and the passage of time underground.

On that Friday, the Orange County Water District will turn on what industry experts say is the world's largest plant devoted to purifying sewer water to increase drinking water supplies. They and others hope it serves as a model for authorities worldwide facing persistent drought, predicted water shortages and projected growth."

FULL STORY: From Sewage, Added Water for Drinking

Tuesday, November 27, 2007 in The New York Times

Environment Infrastructure California

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