Feasibility

Below is a table showing the cost of water on campus.

Returns and Incentive of Reclaimed Water

Based on a 30 year analysis, the total return for each category as such:

Reclaimed water $4.2 million
WWT Sublet $1.7 million
Septage Disposal $1.2 million
Electricity Generation $1.2 million
Compost Sales $0.3 million
Total Returns $8.6 million

Recover Resources

In California and throughout the dry western states the concept of water recovery for non-potable use is rapidly become an imperative as demand is outstripping supply. Looking ahead to a maximum population of 24, 000 FTE there is no question that water supply will be a significant consideration.
Engineering estimates are for maximum potential water recovering of nearly 385 acre feet per year. This figure is based on an estimated 85% recovery of a maximum wastewater flow of 408,800 gallons per day.
The water treatment quality is currently planned for advanced Tertiary, Unrestricted Reuse level of treatment. This would allow reclaimed water to be used for campus core landscape irrigation, crop irrigation and for some industrial uses such as use in the campus cooling towers and nonfood related clean up.

Value of reclaimed water
Establishing a value for reclaimed water was based on two factors. First, where reclaimed water is proposed to be used to offset portable water use it was valued at the same price as potable water, approximately @1,000 per AF. Second, the City of San Luis Obispo is beginning to reclaim non-portable water from its WWT plant and is seeking about $1,000 per AF. This price was taken as an indicator of approximate market value for reclaimed water of similar quality.
If reclaimed water is used in place of non potable water, the value was set at the price the university pays for non-potable water: approximately $117/AF.

Wildlife Habitat Establishment
To date California has lost more than 95% of its aboriginal wetlands which provided wildlife habitat, significant flood control benefits and water purification. Cal Poly has also lost a percentage of its original wetlands. In addition to being useful for the study of wetlands they are anticipated to have some value to wildlife on the campuses as well as potentially to migratory species.

 

Cal Poly Water Cost for 2002
  HCF Total Cost $/HCF
Total Campus Water (Potable & Non-Potable) 622,813 637,718.00 1.10
Potable Water (Domestic) 248,424 601,697.99 2.42
Non-Potable Water (Agriculture) 374,389 86,020.01 0.23
Sewage 149,757 305,570.04 2.14
  HCF (Hundred Cubic Feet) = 748.05 Gallons