Water covers over seventy percent of the world and is one of the most important resources in our world. The amount of space water covers gives the illusion of overabundance but our world is truly in a water crisis, more than one billion people in the world lack adequate access to water. Our water systems that we look to support our ecosystems are stressed, rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up at increasing rates or so polluted they are beyond use. This paper looks to briefly review two systems developed to combat the water scarcity their areas faced.
Water Factory 21 In Orange County California, there been a long standing struggle to ensure the water availability for its often rapidly growing population. Water scarcity in the area became a man made problem beginning roughly in the 1930’s when the agriculture systems in place accounted for 90% of California’s economy. This causing a systematic drying up of water basins almost depleting them by the 1960’s, the over pumping of the basin, caused contamination from seawater intrusion as well. It was around this time, in the 1960’s that the talks of developing and utilizing a system to collect and reuse of wastewater began in Orange County. Unfortunately these talks were was immediately dismissed as being what was considered an “unthinkable” act and their treated wastewater was …show more content…
Water Factory 21 was considered a pilot program for the OCWD and aptly named for its use of twentieth century technology they sought to utilize in this system such as reverse osmosis, microfiltration, and ultraviolet light in the process of water purification. Water Factory 21 also utilized other water treatment techniques like aeration, flocculation, and activated carbon adsorption; though they were eventually considered in effective in fully removing
Water Factory 21 In Orange County California, there been a long standing struggle to ensure the water availability for its often rapidly growing population. Water scarcity in the area became a man made problem beginning roughly in the 1930’s when the agriculture systems in place accounted for 90% of California’s economy. This causing a systematic drying up of water basins almost depleting them by the 1960’s, the over pumping of the basin, caused contamination from seawater intrusion as well. It was around this time, in the 1960’s that the talks of developing and utilizing a system to collect and reuse of wastewater began in Orange County. Unfortunately these talks were was immediately dismissed as being what was considered an “unthinkable” act and their treated wastewater was …show more content…
Water Factory 21 was considered a pilot program for the OCWD and aptly named for its use of twentieth century technology they sought to utilize in this system such as reverse osmosis, microfiltration, and ultraviolet light in the process of water purification. Water Factory 21 also utilized other water treatment techniques like aeration, flocculation, and activated carbon adsorption; though they were eventually considered in effective in fully removing