Decentralizing Water Resources

The continuing drought in Texas and water supply concerns throughout the Southwestern U.S. has created a viable decentralized water market.  The history of global water supply and wastewater treatment is one of moving down the economies of scale curve - - from highly decentralized water systems as pioneers and farmers to highly centralized water systems associated with our current urban environments.  Society to most Americans provides us with all our water and we provide society back with all our wastewater.  As water restrictions continue to dominate the news in Texas, people are beginning to ask, "Why should my shower water become someones drinking water?" and "Why is my rainwater running down the driveway to the street?"

A recent article in the February 23, 2012 issue of the Dallas Morning News, Baby the plants with bath water, by Thomas Korosec addressed the issues of "gray water" and landscaping.  Korosec writes the following:

"Letting the washing machine pump out on the ground is an old-time country approach that both watered the pasture and lengthened the life of a septic system.  Over the past decade or so, use of this so-called gray water to irrigate lawns and landscape has been taken up by green living advocates and approved by legislatures in approximately 13 states.

Texas authorized residential use of gray water in 2003.  Homeowners can use 400 gallons a day for landscape irrigation without a permit.  Systems also must meet city codes.

Texas rules define gray water as effluent from showers and bathtubs, clothes-washing machines and sinks not used for food preparation or disposal.  It is distinct from so called black water from toilets, dishwashers, and kitchen sinks.  Black water must be disposed in sanitary sewers or septic systems."

Another decentralized approach would be rainwater catchment.  Clean water from the sky.  Our recent drought has forced homeowners to seek watering alternatives that disrupt classic economies of scale.  If you have $10,000 worth of landscaping, water from the sky may look very economically attractive if the alternative is no water at all.  The article profiles one innovative company from Denton, Texas - - H2Options that designs and builds green irrigation systems.

I previously covered the segregation of water (gray, black, and yellow) in The Right Water for the Right Purpose.