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.
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