For Immediate Release: 12-21-2021
For more information contact:
Keri Navratil
712-732-8000
navratil@stormlake.org
Currently, the City of Storm Lake is engaged in capital improvement planning which will set the direction of investment and improvements in City infrastructure for the next 10-25 years. The City of Storm Lake Water Treatment Plant was constructed in 1978, upgraded and expanded in 2003, and is now 43 years old. One of the most important factors in planning any improvement to a water treatment plant is water demand. What is the current water demand and what will the required demand be in five years? Ten years? Twenty-five years? Determining the future water production that will be required at the facility is critical to successfully planning the improvements. In the determination of the future demand requirements, water conservation and water reuse are important considerations.
Water conservation and reuse can be classified in seven categories that vary widely in cost and complexity. The most obvious of the seven is demand reduction. Simply put, what can be done to use less water. Internal water reuse at the wastewater treatment plant and internal recycling of water from treatment processes at the water treatment plant are areas of potential improvement to the overall water usage of the city. Currently, all water used in treatment processes at the water treatment plant is recycled and treated for use and this would need to be the case in any new treatment facilities. Stormwater reuse is readily accomplished on an individual property but when attempted on a larger scale it does come with treatment requirements. Industrial reuse has the potential for significant impacts to the overall system, but again this comes with costs and other considerations. Municipal non-potable reuse is currently in use in many jurisdictions nationally but is in the early stages here in Iowa. Indirect and direct municipal potable reuse round out the seven categories of water conservation and reuse. In future Water Wisdom installments, each of these seven categories will be described in more detail and the pros and cons of each reviewed. For more information on any of these topics please visit: www.epa.gov.
More tips regarding voluntary water conservations measures and tips for reducing water consumption will follow each Tuesday. Ensuring wise use of our water resources is in the best interest of the community.
Being Storm Lake Proud is not one day, one week, one month or one event. Being Storm Lake Proud is a magnificent lifestyle! More information about the City of Storm Lake can be found on the city’s website at www.stormlake.org.
###