This is one of the propositions put forward in Australia as our continent is drying up.
According to world forecast... Australia will be the continent most affected by climate change. Within the next 50 years, the temperature will increase by 7 degrees and it will rain only one year every ten years.
[question posted by Aussies2007]
responses and comments:
I would buy whatever water of bottled or soda is out there. Anybody can recycled sewage water if its SAFE AND CLEAN! water in filter are good too, but hey saltwater burns and crisps fish droppings in little tiny sized pieces which are lot when filtered. I rather but Bottled water. Water has touched some nasty sometimes. [Mecboy]
Although I'm sure that the chemicals & what not that they'd have to use to actually recycle the water wouldn't be so great, if they could get it clean, and make it so that it's not a danger to people, and tastes reasonably good, I wouldn't see any problem with it. [Vhaeos]
ewww, well I wouldn't now, but I'm sure if I was on the verge of dying from thirst than I would [Anakata2007]
Yeah, I think what you just said would be the biggest reason people wouldn't drink it. Is the 'ew' factor. [Vhaeos]
my hubby has worked in septic and Plumbing all his life,and many americans fail to realize the contents of a septic tank is sent thru a water purification plant and guess what? yep we drink it. Same with sewer waste- goes into water treatment plants, then therefor becomes county/city water.I am kinda glad I am on well water! Very few realize this, but it is what it is! [Lush_heidi]
My hubby works for our local city water dept.They do the same thing here.Run the sewer water through a treatment plant,then use it for city water.I think it's gross.Fortunately we are on a well.I drink lots of water,but I carry around Bottles filled from my own tap. [happy29]
my hubby has worked in septic and plumbing all his life,and many americans fail to realize the contents of a septic tank is sent thru a water purification plant and guess what? yep we drink it. Same with sewer waste- goes into water treatment plants, then therefor becomes county/city water.I am kinda glad I am on well water! Very few realize this, but it is what it is! [Lush_heidi]
I don't drink water now as it is because it doesn't sit well with me, makes my stomach all upset, so I really doubt I'd drink it if I knew it was recycled sewage water. I think I'll stick to my diet dr. pepper. Yeah I drink coffee but at least it's boiled water so not as bad :) [emeraldisle]
Most of our current water supply comes from Dams and other water catchments. Think of the amount of chemicals leached into these waterways from farming. Fish and water birds defecate and fornicate in the water. This is then passed through a light filtration system. Recycled sewage is actually cleaner than the water we currently drink as the filtration process is much more complicated. However, the thought of drinking recycled waste water is still a bit much for me. [marcau]
Something to look forward to, NOT! I am not even a drinker of tap water as it is as I drink bottled water only, but the thought of drinking recycled sewage is hopefully never going to happen, but then in times to come we may not have a choice. [caramello]
Your continent is drying up and in America we are worried about our million-dollar beach homes going under water because of global warming. I would think that taking sea-water and turning it into drinking water would make more sense. I know it is expensive to do that but if you have no other alternative.... [zeloguy]
Don't worry. When your sea level rise... it will rise world wide. But that's only part of the problem. Violent storms will become more frequent and create sea surges between 22 and 110 metres. This would be similar to a mini tsunami. [Aussies2007]
I am very much thankful for this question though we feel it very tough that we can even drink the recycled sewage water. Yes water is a renewable resource and nature had provided water to us in abundance but man could not maintain the status of water cycle. Today both the ultimate sources of drinking water (Glaciers and Underground water) are losing their levels and it is also a fact that we can not live without water on this globe. So we have to recycle the water by its treatment. It is possible to treat sewage water and yes it will meet out with our future demands. [hariom96]
Water is very important to all of us, a person can live for a month with nothing to eat but not without water. Here in my country many has suffered sickness due to drinking of contaminated water, others even died just recently, from diarrhea to cholera. I think we better buy bottled drinks, like gatorades and eat less of sweets as this would only make feel more thirsty. It really bothers me about this sudden climate change, it really is not normal here in the philippines. It's too cold and windy here, even at night. [raijin]
that sounds absolutely disgusting. i would never want to drink that! just think of all the crap that goes into sewage...eww!! [pagli84]
I study this kind of tratement plants, and I wish I won't need to project any, not because I am not able too (ehehe) but because it's such an expansive process that using it would just mean the environment is totally damaged. Anyway, the process is very safe, and the water that comes out of it is clean, I'd drink it (and I only drink bottled water now). [Annarella83]
I forgot to say, on NASA's "spaceships" they do it, recycle water [Annarella83]
It is only a question of removing the mental block . In olden days we had only well water and it was pretty good and safe. The urbanization witnessed making use of river water for domestic purpose though no one would have drank it straight from any river. We crossed one barrier then. the scarcity increased and today we get sub standard water either contaminated or with chemical content beyond the Safety levels. the next in the queue is the sewage water. This discussion and the post itself would become obsolete after a year or two, Remember human beings are the most adaptable species in the world. [raveemenon]
It is hard to say where any of the water we use comes from. So, for all we know we could already be drinking recycled sewage water. That is a scary thought but you just dont know so its best to just get yourself a water filter that you believe in and feel comfortable with and drink your water from there. [magdollars23]
These guys making the predictions couldn't predict yesterday's weather with any accuracy. There are machines and systems that can make fresh water out of anything. No use worrying, all the crazies predicting the doom and gloom need to be thrown into the cess pool. You will figure out how to survive anywhere you might be. [sigma77]
It is not about figuring out how to survive under harsher conditions... It is about preserving our quality of life. Some people survived in the Mad Max movies. But would you like to live that life style? People like you have buried their head in the sand for far too long... pretending that it will never happen. Well... it is happening in Australia right now. We have the worst drought on record and the cities are running out of water. The farmland of NSW is turning into a desert. I have never seen it that bad. [Aussies2007]
i dont drink i use undeground water my suugestion is to try atlest now [karthiksarwan]
Thanks for bring up this topic. I hope more and more people read and assimilate this discussion. Global warming is something every one must try to understand. It will affect everyone, sooner or later. And unfortunately, there is no other planet where the human race can migrate. About drinking recycled water, there is no harm in that. In fact, if the day comes when there is no water, people will drink water that has not been recycled. Sodas are just pop dreams...lets get out if and face real life. [Transcom22]
In Tamilnadu, there is no water to drink except the sea water. They drink, purified, sewage water. So everybody has to drink. Who knows how the water is and where it is coming from. [geeths22]
I already know that I drink treated sewage water when I drink tap water. There is nothing wrong with it. They treat it and it is perfectly safe to drink it. It is pretty common thing to be down in the States. [kjscrafts]
Same here .. in the UK I think we've been recycling water since the Victorian times .. or at least sewage treatment plants were started in the late 1880's (and yes it really was the 19C), so any treated sewage water is pumped back into rivers ... that water is then taken for drinking water so inevitable just about everyone in the world is drinking some recycled water .. The only people who wouldn't be drinking recycled water of some description are those who draw water only from deep wells that are not fed by rivers ... At least here in the UK the tap water is 100% safe to drink .. not many countries in the world can boast that ... !! [patootie]
That was definitely bound to happen.There are weird cimatic changes taking place all over the world and if drastic measures arent taken.and we will have no other choic than to drink up what we have.and we shouldnt be surprised if we have a shortage of even that and a demand for the recycled water. [dbeast]
i think there wont be need of drinkin recycled water but the recycled water an be used for other purpose like in toilets and washing ur cars and any other purpose where the water is usually wasted and the fresh water would be used for drinking purpose only [jinxed666]
This would be a great solution. Unfortunately it would be impossible to do that as the cost of connecting every house to two different sources of water would be prohibitive. It would be cheaper to buy bottled water. [Aussies2007]
cause it, when started running [micheeeeee80]
I think that I would drink it as long as I was absolutely certain that it was safe and clean. I would need to see some hard numbers on the cleanliness and know that it was tested many times. If it is the only option, than I suppose that people would have to agree to it, anyways. [faerieingrey]
thats really nasty..well at least you wont have to drink recycled urine, that would beeven worse;))))))))))) [bitbit]
OK, being in Australia wouldn't it be better to try and find a way to take the salt out of water from the sea? Because according to other sources, with climate changes, the ice in the Antartica will melt and the water will rise all over... you are basically surrounded by water! With a purifying machine to take the salt out and make it drinkable water, or at least water to shower like the Cruise boats do, should help you, don't you think? Besides, there are treatments so efective that the water comes out clean, really clean, even more than before using it the first time... I don't think I would have a problem. [berlinlife]
A desaltanization plant for Sydney was suggested two years ago. They talked excitingly about it for a few months... and then it was put on the back burner. I heard recently that they were still considering building one if the dam water level drop to 30 percent. It is currently at 34 percent. A year ago... it was at 47 percent. It would take 5 years to build the plant. By then... we will be out of water. That is how efficient our politicians are. [Aussies2007]
I dont think I could ever do that, but then again if it was a matter of survival, then I guess I would have too. I am very concerned abouy the effects the global warming and climate changes are having. I am worried about the future of our planet, and I hope we can do enough to turn things around, before it is too late. [karsted]
that sounds gross. I don't think I could drink recycled water. Unless we had to. but even knowing that would be hard for me to do [iluvmydaisy]
I would have to think about other alternatives if it came to that, I am from Melbourne and I usually boil my water now, I think if they connected our water to recycled water I would have to buy bottled water, I don't think I could drink recycled water no matter how pure they say it is.... [lilaclady]
If that is true, you people need to start planning now on what to do for an alternate water supply. Drinking recycled sewage water sounds nasty to me. How could they possibly clean and filter sewage so that it is fit for human consumption? Yuck! There has got to be a better way. [pebbles724]
Not to freak you out or anything, but I think you would be surprised what sewage water is being used for all over the world. Many of the larger cities recycle sewage water here in the US. Now, I don't know about body waste, but there are other sewage waters such as laundry and so on that are definitely going back into the drinking fountains. Disgusting to think about I know. Maybe bottled water is the answer, but who is to say? [janmar]
Is there an Alternative because we all know drinking water is more crucial to living then consuming food.If this happens I am sure the water will be treated so that the drinker wont even know the difference Perhaps this is so far away none of us will be here to really know Good Luck [maddy37]
In that case Australia should start importing bottled mineral water from other countries. The idea of drinking recycled sewage water isn't very palatable. And water is badly needed by the body. If that's the only water available, then you will be forced to drink it to survive. Before it happens, drinking recycled sewage water, you better start importing water now. [funny52f]
Australia has its own bottled mineral water. I guess that people can always make that choice and don't drink any tap water. Many people do that already and you can buy water in 10 litres jerrican. It is not the amount of water we drink which is causing the shortage. It is the water use for everything we do... like having showers, flashing toilets and doing the washing. People waste a tremendous amount of water without thinking about it. They take water for granted in the big cities like Sydney. [Aussies2007]
Here in the UK we've been recycling sewage water for donkeys years .. where on Earth does all the sewage go in Australia if it's not sent to a sewage plant and cleaned up ?? You'd be awash with untreated sewage .. ?? Anyway .. don't worry about it .. the water that comes out of our taps in the UK is some of the cleanest is the world .. yet it goes round and round and round .. because the treatment plants are superb sat ridding the water of all poisons chemicals and the such like the water that comes directly from a sewage plant is actually more pure than water than comes from rivers, dams or other such sources and only 'cleaned' up ... So start drinking recycled water .. you may actually find it's more pure than what you were drinking before .. [patootie]
All of our sewage is pumped into the sea after going through a sewage plant. In the past... we had many problems with that as well... as the sewage was polluting some of our beaches. The problem with Australia is that it is too big in relation to the size of its population. As a result... Australia cannot afford the cost of increasing the size of its infra-structure. So politicians keep talking... but do nothing. Sydney has had a water shortage for five years... and nothing has been done. The politicians pray for rain every night so that they won't need to spend money to fix the problem. [Aussies2007]
I think modern technology and science have figured out a way to recycle water to produce a clean and 100% potable water. As long as it is done properly and with guarantee that it is 100% safe, then I will have no problem drinking it. What choice do I have anyway when water sources are depleted and there's no water available. Desalination of sea water is another approach being considered. Between the 2, I prefer the latter. There is actually nothing wrong with recycled sewage water, it's our imagination that gives us the problem. Cheers. [manong05]
I think it is ok we drink recycled sewage water, if its was process with good process until it deserve to be drink, I think almost everyday what we drink is also recycled sewage water. Our water station get a raw material (WATER) from river that we use dumb everthing start from waste water from cleaning , our pee, etc and water station will process it until its good enough to be drink. [lameran]
The fact of the matter is that all water is recycled by nature. You cannot get new water. All the water on earth is the same water which was there when the planet was formed million of years ago. We are probably drinking water that Julius Ceasar did piss in 2000 years ago. [Aussies2007]
if it's filtered, it's ok by me. I'll drink pretty much whatever is free. [MrCoolantSpray]
huh, I read that article in a news paper. I couldnt beleive that sewage water can be treated to drinking quality!! But more surprising was water shortage in sparsly populated Australia. I dont think i would drink such water, unless am desperate. Australia has lots of uranium, SO i think their govt should encourage other (Non rouge) countries to use nuclear energy. They will be helping themselves by doin so, insted of sitting on such huge reserves. [smrohitsm]
I am sorry, this is far too much! Maybe just use it for watering plants? Or even taking shower? Using it for flashing the toilet, some other technical purposes. Come on, there must be some other good ways to use it! [Zebrochka]
The possibility of building a desalination plant in Sydney is back on the agenda. But they are still not committing themselve to it. The government is putting two conditions on it. The Sydney reservoir has to fall below 30 percent. And the people have to re-elect the government. It sound like blackmail to me in order to win an election. [Aussies2007]
in metro cities of india it is already being done i think.with a popolation more than 100 million and limited source of water what else can you think?water we get is recyled only.we dont know for sure weather it is sewage water or anything else. [amitntpc]
It would not be my first choice. I will only drink it as a last resort. Even though its clean I find it kind of digusting that it used to be sewage water. I know they are other ways of getting drinking water without recycling sewage water. [spiderlizard22]
Water is life. If it is what is available for anyone to survive, I think yes we would drink it. This is one thing I am thankful in our place we havent reached that part yet. There are even streams in out home town where you can drink fresh water from the mountains. we call them here 'ubug'. [Perry2007]
the mere thought is sickenning.But guess i would drink it in extreme thirst [worthy]
Oh no, Aussies2007. Australia is surrounded by Ocean. So, you don't have to worry about lacking of water there. At least, it is not now. When your country is having a winter season, please reserve the snow there. Thus, you'll have plenty water in the summer. Hopefully, my advice can be useful :-) [friendship]
We would love snow for Christmas. We never had a white Christmas. Bring it on... and we will make you an Aussie citizen and give you the key of the city. [Aussies2007]
Since the formation of earth there has not been increase or decrease in water quantity. Quantity has always been the same. Only there is transformation. Crudely speaking, What is sewege now will evaporate and go to sky to be a cloud and will come back to us as fresh water in the form of rain. This is natural purification. If it is possible for Man to filter, process and purify any form of water into safe drinking water, it is potable and there is no harm in taking it. [12111954]
Excessive pumping out of the ground is also a problem here in India. But there have been experiments here. They recharge underground wells with rain water. If these wells are recharged, we can prevent this underground water becoming salty.But for that rain is essential. This also teaches us how precious rain water is. It should be stored as much as possible. In old houses of Ahmedabad in old walled city people used to make underground Storage tanks where they used to store rain water for using throughout the year for drinking and cooking. My ancestral house in old walled Ahmedabad city also had an underground tank of rain water storage but after the Municipality started distributing water in pipes since last 100 years, such underground storage tanks were abandoned. That means our forefathers were wiser than us in judicious use of water. I have heard from family anecdotes that brass and copper utensils cleaned with underground stored water used to shine better because there were no salts in this type of water. In modern days also, I used to store rain water in large containers to sterilize glass injection syringes and needles[I'm a doctor] because rain water is without salt and needles do not get salt deposit upon repeated autoclaving with rain water. But after the era of disposables, this method was also abandoned. Another use of stored rain water was to pour in car radiators to prevent salt deposition in radiator. [12111954]
is recycled seawage water safe and clean? hmmm, i think i will not drink that one..i' will just find another source of water if our water hear depletes... [bing_r77]
If things goes bad you have to, but make it hot. [elshaddai123]
I don't know what it was that you thought you were drinking, but it is likely that a lot of water that you have drunk has already been through somebody or something somewhere!! I work in the water industry (particularly in waste water), and know that sewage is treated and usually put back into rivers and streams.[the quality of this water is strictly controlled - and monitoring that is basically how the company I work for makes a living...] Your drinking water comes either these natural water courses or reservoirs/bore-holes and goes through cleansing treatment before reaching your tap. Even if the rain is filtered through Rock and come up through a bore-hole, the rain originally came from water evaporated from the earth and hence there's every chance that all water molecules or at least their components have been through someone before... Sewage works effluent is very strictly regulated and in may cases that I have personally seen has less ammonia (indicator of urine) in it than the tapwater in our office. [this is no joke!] [livewyre]
You're right, the mistake is to think that our drinking water is somehow 'pure' when it is treated and filtered because it needs to be. Like you I would like to think that natural filtering cleanses the water perfectly adequately whether through rain or through the earth in bore-holes. I have no idea what the proportion of river-water as opposed to rain water reservoirs supplies our taps. You could find out on a regional basis by looking at the following: 1)How many drinking water treatment plants in your region 2)where does the water come from for each plant (reservoir, river, desalination?) 3)what is the output from each of these plants in comparison with the total output for the region Your local water board/water authority can provide these figures - and the same applies to any region in the world. I have seen final effluent from sewage works which I believe to be totally clean, and would have no qualms about having that effluent fed straight into a drinking water treatment plant for further treatment. As you point out, some industrial users on the other hand are putting far worse things into our river systems than sewage... [livewyre]