OneWater Nevada’s Advanced Purified Water Demonstration Project (APWD Project) conducted at the Reno-Stead Water Reclamation Facility (RSWRF) has been named the 2021 project of the year by the Truckee Meadows American Society of Civil Engineers.
The project was a joint effort between the City of Reno, Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA), and the University of Nevada, Reno, to treat reclaimed water to Category A+, inject the water underground, and then recover the water for beneficial use. This process is known as aquifer storage and recovery. The small-scale (15 gallons per minute) demonstration project proved that the advanced water treatment technologies are valid and cost-effective.
Category A+ reclaimed water is advanced purified water that meets or exceeds all Federal and State drinking water standards. Treating reclaimed water to Category A+ status uses state-of-the-art water treatment technology and then harnesses natural groundwater processes to safely produce a drinking water quality product.
“We’re extremely proud to receive this prestigious honor from the American Society of Civil Engineers for our efforts to provide a local, reliable and drought-proof water source for our community,” said City of Reno Public Works Director John Flansberg. “This project demonstrates the importance of regional collaboration and how much we can accomplish when we work together toward a more sustainable future.”
“Advanced purified water provides our region with an opportunity to create a new and sustainable water supply option,” said Dr. Lydia Teel, TMWA Emerging Resources Program Administrator. “Instead of using a resource only once, we can recycle and reuse water in a safe and reliable manner to create a drought-proof water supply for our future.”
“The University of Nevada, Reno’s Nevada Water Innovation Institute is proud to collaborate with our government agency partners on this project,” said Dr. Krishna Pagilla, Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. “Water is a key resource in our region, and we are honored to be a part of the team that is finding solutions to the area’s water management issues.”
Through the success of the project, the City of Reno and TMWA are working jointly to build a full-scale Advanced Purified Water Facility in the North Valleys. It would involve upgraded treatment facilities at the RSWRF, an advanced purified water facility to be built offsite or at the RSWRF site, conveyance pipelines, pump station improvements, and injection and extraction wells. Advanced purified water stored in the aquifer would initially be taken out and used for irrigation of the American Flat site.
On Wednesday, April 27, during the Reno City Council Meeting, City staff will present a project status update and outline the next steps for future implementation.