Advanced Water Purification (AWP), formerly known as Direct Potable Reuse, uses treated wastewater to produce potable water that is so pure that minerals must be added so it tastes right. AWP is an engineered combination of ultra-filtration, reverse osmosis and oxidation. This degree of treatment would allow blending of wastewater with the water supply. Costs have come down, and AWP is now being used successfully in Scottsdale, Texas and California.
The Citizens Water Advocacy Group (CWAG) believes AWP should be studied and evaluated for use in the Prescott Active Management Area. AWP could remove arsenic, PFAS and other emerging chemicals from drinking water, stop further contamination of our aquifer, reduce groundwater pumping, reduce impact on Verde River flow and save the upcoming costs of PFAS removal. It might be a great solution, but water providers must first begin to cooperate, along with looking for new solutions.
To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's column in the Daily Courier, published August 4, 2024.