[미국] 캘리포니아, 새롭게 개선된 물 정화 센터

새너제이와 산타클라라와 협력을 맺고 있는 캘리포니아의 Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD)이 실리콘밸리 물 정화 센터의 시작을 축하한다고 밝혔다. 실리콘밸리 물 정화 센터는 새로운 국부적 통제와 가뭄에 견딜 수 있는 수자원이다. 북부 새너제이에 위치한 정화 센터는 SCVWD가 소유하고 운영하고 있으며 이미 고품질 정화수를 하루에 800만 갤런 생산하고 북부 캘리포니아 최대의 시설이다.

7천200만 달러 규모의 프로젝트는 2010년 11월에 건설을 시작했다. 새로운 시설은 연방 미 경기부양책으로부터 825만 달러와 캘리포니아 수자원부에서 525만 달러를 받았다. 또한 새너제이 시는 땅을 장기간 임대하고 건설을 위해 1천100만 달러를 기증하고 용수지구는 나머리 프로젝트 비용을 제공했다.

the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) of California, in partnership with the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara, celebrated the grand opening of the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center -- a new, locally-controlled, drought-proof water source for Silicon Valley. Located in northern San Jose, the new purification center, owned and operated by SCVWD, is already producing up to 8 million gallons per day (GPD) of highly purified water and is the largest facility of its kind in Northern California.

The $72-million project began construction in November of 2010. The new facility received $8.25 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and $5.25 million from the California Department of Water Resources. The city of San Jose contributed $11 million toward the construction and provided a long-term lease for the land. The water district has funded the remainder of the project costs.

The new facility is using advanced technologies to purify water which has already undergone two levels of quality wastewater treatment sourced from the San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF). At the new purification center, the water undergoes three additional high-tech processes -- microfiltration, reverse osmosis (RO) and ultraviolet (UV) light -- to produce water that is so pure, it is expected to match drinking water quality.

Instead of going to the bay, this water will be distributed via the regional "purple pipe" recycled water system, delivered by South Bay Water Recycling (SBWR), a program within the RWF, and used for industrial cooling towers, golf courses and car washes, throughout San Jose, Milpitas and Santa Clara. Approximately 750 customers of the SBWR program are now enjoying the enhanced recycled water, which has a lower level of total dissolved solids. This helps reduce chemical use and maintenance costs for industrial users and is easier on some plant species because it reduces salt buildup.

Recycled water has been used successfully in Santa Clara County for decades. Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and Gilroy all produce recycled water from their wastewater facilities. In Sunnyvale, the water district is helping to fund a pipeline that will bring recycled water to the new Apple campus. In Gilroy, the water district is building new pipelines to expand the system to serve more customers, including farmers, golf courses and parks. SBWR will provide recycled water to the new 49er Levi's Stadium.

Today, recycled water makes up about 5 percent of the county's total water demands. By 2025, the water district hopes to double that number. The new purification center is one important step to reaching that goal. Not only does it make recycled water more attractive to existing and potential customers, it is demonstrating proven technologies to produce high quality water that can be used for various potential uses, including expanding drinking water supplies.

Recycled water is a major component of the water district's long-term water supply management plan. This plan also calls for aggressive water conservation savings. However, even with aggressive conservation savings, Santa Clara County will need the additional security of a locally-controlled, drought-proof water supply. Along with conservation, advanced purified water will help meet all future growth -- and associated water supply needs -- within the county.

[출처 = Water World / 2014년 7월 21일]