Health-based regulations drive up the cost oftreatment, but about 50% of system design capacityis for irrigation and toilet flushing for which theseregulations are irrelevant. Using reclaimed water toeliminate nonpotable demands reduces plant size,and shifting fire protection to reclaimed water keepswater residence time short in the potable lines to thebenefit of water quality. In dual distribution systems,pipe diameters and water residence times arereduced in potable water lines, resulting in less deteriorationin water quality. A case study communityshows the benefits and costs of integrating fire protectioninto the nonpotable water lines in a dualsystem. Although the financial barrier to adoptionof a dual distribution system is a challenge, thisarticle provides a template to assess the costs andthe benefits that will be useful to many waterutilities. Includes 30 references, tables, figures.
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Edition: Vol. 101 - No. 2 Published: 02/01/2009 Number of Pages: 10File Size: 1 file , 530 KB