저번주 샌디에고 시티의 물 정화 시설(AWP)에 5000번째 관광객 방문으로 시설의 역사적인 사건이 됐다. 2011년 7월부터 보이스카우트, 걸스카우트, 선출된 공무원과 계약자, 의회, 물 산업 전문가와 유치원 및 초등학교에서 350명이 넘는 관광객이 방문했다.

무료 관광은 Pure Water San Diego를 위한 봉사활동의 교육의 일환이었다. 도시의 20년 프로그램은 물 정화 기술사용을 통해 샌디에이고의 안전과 지속가능한 지역 식수 공급을 제공한다. 관광동안 물 정화 공정은 자세하게 설명되고 참가자는 근거리에서 기술 사용을 볼 수 있다.

Last week the city of San Diego, Calif., welcomed its 5,000th tour guest to the Advanced Water Purification (AWP) Facility -- an accomplishment that ultimately prompted a historic milestone for the utility.

Since July 2011, more than 350 tours have been given to groups including Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, elected officials, contractors, neighborhood councils, water industry professionals, and school classes ranging from elementary to postdoctoral.

The free tours are part of the education and outreach program for Pure Water San Diego, the city's 20-year program to provide a safe, secure and sustainable local drinking water supply for San Diego through the use of water purification technology. During the tour, the water purification process is explained in detail, and participants get an up-close look at the technology used.

The AWP Facility, located at the North City Water Reclamation Plant, takes recycled water and turns it into safe drinkable water through a three-step treatment process of membrane filtration, reverse osmosis (RO) and advanced oxidation with ultraviolet (UV) light and hydrogen peroxide. One million gallons of water is purified every day. The water produced meets all federal and state drinking water standards but is for testing purposes only. Currently, the water is not added to the drinking water supply.

Pure Water San Diego's education and outreach program, which also includes community presentations, social media and event participation, has served as a model to other agencies seeking to implement water purification. Water agencies from as far away as Australia and China have visited the AWP Facility to learn more about how to best communicate about water purification to the public. The city's program has increased understanding and approval of water purification in San Diego, with public support rising from 26 percent in 2004 to 73 percent in 2012.

[출처 = Water World / 2014년 5월 19일]