Wednesday, March 26, 2008 | If the city were to allow on-site recycling of wastewater, the xeriscape landscaping would be accomplished with recycled water, not potable water.
Every such gallon would be a gallon less from the Delta or the Colorado and gallon less of waste water discharged into the Pacific plus the saving of the electricity in moving the water from the Delta and the Colorado to our homes and moving the waste water to the Pacific. This of course can be done on larger scales in the tradition of the “Living Machine” in which plants clean waste water to the tertiary level, just short of potable. The particular brand with which I am familiar is a Solar Aquatic System.
Having seen these systems in operation, I know of no reason why they cannot be built here in San Diego such that Colorado and Delta water might be used and reused, time and again. That’s what I understand sustainability means in the water world.