good morning so my name is sandy Scott Roberts and I’m a civil engineer at the
Roberts and I’m a civil engineer at the
Roberts and I’m a civil engineer at the Orange County Water District I’m also a
Orange County Water District I’m also a
Orange County Water District I’m also a wife and a mother of two daughters and a
wife and a mother of two daughters and a
wife and a mother of two daughters and a resident in Orange County I decided to
resident in Orange County I decided to
resident in Orange County I decided to pursue a career in engineering from a
pursue a career in engineering from a
pursue a career in engineering from a recommendation from my high school
recommendation from my high school
recommendation from my high school physics teacher
physics teacher
physics teacher after much debate on which bubble I
after much debate on which bubble I
after much debate on which bubble I should fill in and my college
should fill in and my college
should fill in and my college application mechanical engineer
application mechanical engineer
application mechanical engineer aeronautical engineer structural
aeronautical engineer structural
aeronautical engineer structural engineer
engineer
engineer I decided on civil and environmental
I decided on civil and environmental
I decided on civil and environmental engineering emphasis on water treatment
engineering emphasis on water treatment
engineering emphasis on water treatment when asked why my answer was simple
when asked why my answer was simple
when asked why my answer was simple everybody needs water humans can go 40
everybody needs water humans can go 40
everybody needs water humans can go 40 days without food but we can’t go more
days without food but we can’t go more
days without food but we can’t go more than 3 days without water without
than 3 days without water without
than 3 days without water without drinkable water so at the Orange County
drinkable water so at the Orange County
drinkable water so at the Orange County Water District we make drinking water
Water District we make drinking water
Water District we make drinking water for Orange County so how many of you
for Orange County so how many of you
for Orange County so how many of you today use the restroom brushed your
today use the restroom brushed your
today use the restroom brushed your teeth or took a shower I’m hoping you at
teeth or took a shower I’m hoping you at
teeth or took a shower I’m hoping you at least did one of those today that water
least did one of those today that water
least did one of those today that water comes into our homes through reservoirs
comes into our homes through reservoirs
comes into our homes through reservoirs groundwater basins two treatment plants
groundwater basins two treatment plants
groundwater basins two treatment plants pump stations pipelines we use that
pump stations pipelines we use that
pump stations pipelines we use that water for these purposes laundry dishes
water for these purposes laundry dishes
water for these purposes laundry dishes showering and once that water is used it
showering and once that water is used it
showering and once that water is used it goes into our sewers and it is that is
goes into our sewers and it is that is
goes into our sewers and it is that is considered wastewater that wastewater is
considered wastewater that wastewater is
considered wastewater that wastewater is being treated by the Orange County
being treated by the Orange County
being treated by the Orange County Sanitation District and purified by the
Sanitation District and purified by the
Sanitation District and purified by the Orange County Water District through the
Orange County Water District through the
Orange County Water District through the groundwater replenishment system to make
groundwater replenishment system to make
groundwater replenishment system to make drinking water so I’m going to talk to
drinking water so I’m going to talk to
drinking water so I’m going to talk to you about that today but before I get
you about that today but before I get
you about that today but before I get into that I’d like to make a point about
into that I’d like to make a point about
into that I’d like to make a point about water on our earth there has never been
water on our earth there has never been
water on our earth there has never been new water on our earth we’ve had the
new water on our earth we’ve had the
new water on our earth we’ve had the same volume of water on our earth for
same volume of water on our earth for
same volume of water on our earth for millions of years so what this means is
millions of years so what this means is
millions of years so what this means is that we have all at one point drank
that we have all at one point drank
that we have all at one point drank water that was one time dinosaur pee so
water that was one time dinosaur pee so
water that was one time dinosaur pee so if you take that into consideration all
if you take that into consideration all
if you take that into consideration all water is recycles and risk water
water is recycles and risk water
water is recycles and risk water recycling is nothing
recycling is nothing
recycling is nothing new water recycling has been termed in
new water recycling has been termed in
new water recycling has been termed in the media toilet to tap you can see all
the media toilet to tap you can see all
the media toilet to tap you can see all the media headlines scrolling behind me
the media headlines scrolling behind me
the media headlines scrolling behind me toilet to tap that doesn’t sound very
toilet to tap that doesn’t sound very
toilet to tap that doesn’t sound very pleasing toilet to tap also is is not
pleasing toilet to tap also is is not
pleasing toilet to tap also is is not correct like I mentioned and we all
correct like I mentioned and we all
correct like I mentioned and we all disgust with the activities we did today
disgust with the activities we did today
disgust with the activities we did today while we washed our dishes or we took a
while we washed our dishes or we took a
while we washed our dishes or we took a shower or we use the sink wastewater is
shower or we use the sink wastewater is
shower or we use the sink wastewater is made up of a bunch of uses it’s not only
made up of a bunch of uses it’s not only
made up of a bunch of uses it’s not only toilet actually only 10% of wastewater
toilet actually only 10% of wastewater
toilet actually only 10% of wastewater comes from the toilet so this acronym
comes from the toilet so this acronym
comes from the toilet so this acronym toilet to tap is missing that detail
toilet to tap is missing that detail
toilet to tap is missing that detail it’s also missing the detailed of the
it’s also missing the detailed of the
it’s also missing the detailed of the treatment processes that take place in
treatment processes that take place in
treatment processes that take place in between the toilet and the tap or the
between the toilet and the tap or the
between the toilet and the tap or the wastewater and to your tap so I’m going
wastewater and to your tap so I’m going
wastewater and to your tap so I’m going to go through and kind of walk through
to go through and kind of walk through
to go through and kind of walk through those treatment processes now so that
those treatment processes now so that
those treatment processes now so that wastewater goes to the Orange County
wastewater goes to the Orange County
wastewater goes to the Orange County Sanitation District first that’s a
Sanitation District first that’s a
Sanitation District first that’s a wastewater treatment plant and they go
wastewater treatment plant and they go
wastewater treatment plant and they go through a preliminary screening process
through a preliminary screening process
through a preliminary screening process this removes big items from the
this removes big items from the
this removes big items from the treatment process bowling balls
treatment process bowling balls
treatment process bowling balls two-by-fours things that shouldn’t be in
two-by-fours things that shouldn’t be in
two-by-fours things that shouldn’t be in the treatment process after that there’s
the treatment process after that there’s
the treatment process after that there’s a clarification step is called
a clarification step is called
a clarification step is called preliminary treatment solids are settled
preliminary treatment solids are settled
preliminary treatment solids are settled out and then that clarified water moves
out and then that clarified water moves
out and then that clarified water moves on to the next step which is called
on to the next step which is called
on to the next step which is called secondary treatment secondary treatment
secondary treatment secondary treatment
secondary treatment secondary treatment is a biological step much like the
is a biological step much like the
is a biological step much like the microbes in our stomach break down food
microbes in our stomach break down food
microbes in our stomach break down food to help us digest food the secondary
to help us digest food the secondary
to help us digest food the secondary treatment process uses microbes to our
treatment process uses microbes to our
treatment process uses microbes to our benefit to break down organics in that
benefit to break down organics in that
benefit to break down organics in that wastewater
wastewater
wastewater this water then moves on to the Orange
this water then moves on to the Orange
this water then moves on to the Orange County Water District groundwater
County Water District groundwater
County Water District groundwater replenishment system we take it and we
replenishment system we take it and we
replenishment system we take it and we treat it even further our first process
treat it even further our first process
treat it even further our first process is micro filtration this is a hollow
is micro filtration this is a hollow
is micro filtration this is a hollow fiber membrane or a straw and that we
fiber membrane or a straw and that we
fiber membrane or a straw and that we use to filter out small but a small
use to filter out small but a small
use to filter out small but a small bacteria small particles analogy to the
bacteria small particles analogy to the
bacteria small particles analogy to the micro filtration system is
micro filtration system is
micro filtration system is making ice water out of the straw the
making ice water out of the straw the
making ice water out of the straw the ice is too big and won’t get sucked up
ice is too big and won’t get sucked up
ice is too big and won’t get sucked up into the straw well that’s exactly what
into the straw well that’s exactly what
into the straw well that’s exactly what happens with our micro filters except
happens with our micro filters except
happens with our micro filters except for that our hole size and the straws
for that our hole size and the straws
for that our hole size and the straws and the they’re called pore size are
and the they’re called pore size are
and the they’re called pore size are actually one three hundredths the
actually one three hundredths the
actually one three hundredths the diameter of a human hair so if you take
diameter of a human hair so if you take
diameter of a human hair so if you take a look at one of your strands of hair
a look at one of your strands of hair
a look at one of your strands of hair and imagine the size of one three
and imagine the size of one three
and imagine the size of one three hundredths the diameter of that hair
hundredths the diameter of that hair
hundredths the diameter of that hair that’s the size of the particles and the
that’s the size of the particles and the
that’s the size of the particles and the bacteria we’re filtering out through
bacteria we’re filtering out through
bacteria we’re filtering out through this micro filtration process after
this micro filtration process after
this micro filtration process after micro filtration we send the water
micro filtration we send the water
micro filtration we send the water through reverse osmosis many of you are
through reverse osmosis many of you are
through reverse osmosis many of you are familiar with this treatment process
familiar with this treatment process
familiar with this treatment process it’s also used by bottled water
it’s also used by bottled water
it’s also used by bottled water companies what reverse osmosis this is a
companies what reverse osmosis this is a
companies what reverse osmosis this is a thin film membrane it’s spiral round in
thin film membrane it’s spiral round in
thin film membrane it’s spiral round in a in a plastic pressure vessel and we’re
a in a plastic pressure vessel and we’re
a in a plastic pressure vessel and we’re putting high pressurized water to push
putting high pressurized water to push
putting high pressurized water to push pure water molecules through that
pure water molecules through that
pure water molecules through that membrane
membrane
membrane unlike the micro filters which I
unlike the micro filters which I
unlike the micro filters which I explained had a pore size in diameter
explained had a pore size in diameter
explained had a pore size in diameter the reverse osmosis membranes have a
the reverse osmosis membranes have a
the reverse osmosis membranes have a molecular scale cutoff so pure water
molecular scale cutoff so pure water
molecular scale cutoff so pure water molecules are all that’s pushed through
molecules are all that’s pushed through
molecules are all that’s pushed through large molecules like pharmaceuticals
large molecules like pharmaceuticals
large molecules like pharmaceuticals pesticides viruses actually stay behind
pesticides viruses actually stay behind
pesticides viruses actually stay behind so the pure water molecules
so the pure water molecules
so the pure water molecules that’s called permeate is pushed through
that’s called permeate is pushed through
that’s called permeate is pushed through and goes on to the next step an another
and goes on to the next step an another
and goes on to the next step an another analogy for a membrane is on our body
analogy for a membrane is on our body
analogy for a membrane is on our body it’s our skin our skin holds in our
it’s our skin our skin holds in our
it’s our skin our skin holds in our bodily fluids it holds in blood but it
bodily fluids it holds in blood but it
bodily fluids it holds in blood but it does allow sweat to diffuse out if
does allow sweat to diffuse out if
does allow sweat to diffuse out if you’re exercising or if you’re hot so it
you’re exercising or if you’re hot so it
you’re exercising or if you’re hot so it acts very similar to reverse osmosis
acts very similar to reverse osmosis
acts very similar to reverse osmosis membrane and that it loves certain
membrane and that it loves certain
membrane and that it loves certain fluids to diffuse through it and others
fluids to diffuse through it and others
fluids to diffuse through it and others not
not
not after the reverse osmosis this permeate
after the reverse osmosis this permeate
after the reverse osmosis this permeate goes through the ultraviolet light or UV
goes through the ultraviolet light or UV
goes through the ultraviolet light or UV photolysis this process uses UV light
photolysis this process uses UV light
photolysis this process uses UV light shines it on the water and this UV light
shines it on the water and this UV light
shines it on the water and this UV light breaks down any small molecules that may
breaks down any small molecules that may
breaks down any small molecules that may have made it on to the next process
have made it on to the next process
have made it on to the next process we’ve all experienced damaging effects
we’ve all experienced damaging effects
we’ve all experienced damaging effects of UV light if you’re in the
of UV light if you’re in the
of UV light if you’re in the too long and get a sunburn this process
too long and get a sunburn this process
too long and get a sunburn this process acts in the same way and that it takes
acts in the same way and that it takes
acts in the same way and that it takes that UV light breaks down small
that UV light breaks down small
that UV light breaks down small molecules nitrous means 1 4 dioxane
molecules nitrous means 1 4 dioxane
molecules nitrous means 1 4 dioxane endocrine disrupters real small
endocrine disrupters real small
endocrine disrupters real small molecules that shouldn’t be in the water
molecules that shouldn’t be in the water
molecules that shouldn’t be in the water once it’s broken down it’s non-detect in
once it’s broken down it’s non-detect in
once it’s broken down it’s non-detect in a laboratory analysis after UV light the
a laboratory analysis after UV light the
a laboratory analysis after UV light the water is so pure that it’s near
water is so pure that it’s near
water is so pure that it’s near distilled water we’ve literally
distilled water we’ve literally
distilled water we’ve literally separated out the water molecules we
separated out the water molecules we
separated out the water molecules we actually add minerals like calcium back
actually add minerals like calcium back
actually add minerals like calcium back into the water to stabilize it we then
into the water to stabilize it we then
into the water to stabilize it we then test this water for over 400 different
test this water for over 400 different
test this water for over 400 different compounds this is above and beyond
compounds this is above and beyond
compounds this is above and beyond what’s required for standard drinking
what’s required for standard drinking
what’s required for standard drinking water for bottled water we do this
water for bottled water we do this
water for bottled water we do this voluntarily to ensure that our water is
voluntarily to ensure that our water is
voluntarily to ensure that our water is safe we produce 100 million gallons per
safe we produce 100 million gallons per
safe we produce 100 million gallons per day of this purified water that’s enough
day of this purified water that’s enough
day of this purified water that’s enough water for eight hundred and fifty
water for eight hundred and fifty
water for eight hundred and fifty thousand people the water is after the
thousand people the water is after the
thousand people the water is after the treatment process we actually take the
treatment process we actually take the
treatment process we actually take the water and we put it into Orange County’s
water and we put it into Orange County’s
water and we put it into Orange County’s groundwater Basin that’s an underground
groundwater Basin that’s an underground
groundwater Basin that’s an underground natural reservoir made up of sand and
natural reservoir made up of sand and
natural reservoir made up of sand and silt layers the water travels through
silt layers the water travels through
silt layers the water travels through the sand and is then pulled up through
the sand and is then pulled up through
the sand and is then pulled up through wells production wells for cities for
wells production wells for cities for
wells production wells for cities for farmers for irrigation and then sent to
farmers for irrigation and then sent to
farmers for irrigation and then sent to the customers your home or the tap the
the customers your home or the tap the
the customers your home or the tap the Orange County Water District uses the
Orange County Water District uses the
Orange County Water District uses the groundwater replenishment system water
groundwater replenishment system water
groundwater replenishment system water to continuously replenish the
to continuously replenish the
to continuously replenish the groundwater Basin so therefore water
groundwater Basin so therefore water
groundwater Basin so therefore water levels don’t go down we maintain safe
levels don’t go down we maintain safe
levels don’t go down we maintain safe water levels and enough water for the
water levels and enough water for the
water levels and enough water for the residents in Orange County does this
residents in Orange County does this
residents in Orange County does this only work in Orange County
only work in Orange County
only work in Orange County no Australia Singapore have also very
no Australia Singapore have also very
no Australia Singapore have also very large treatment facilities just like we
large treatment facilities just like we
large treatment facilities just like we do that do the same thing this is a
do that do the same thing this is a
do that do the same thing this is a cost-effective local and sustainable
cost-effective local and sustainable
cost-effective local and sustainable water supply solution especially for
water supply solution especially for
water supply solution especially for regions in drought
regions in drought
regions in drought it also for at least for Orange County
it also for at least for Orange County
it also for at least for Orange County it makes us less reliant on imported
it makes us less reliant on imported
it makes us less reliant on imported water Southern California relies heavily
water Southern California relies heavily
water Southern California relies heavily on imported water from Northern
on imported water from Northern
on imported water from Northern California from the Colorado River
California from the Colorado River
California from the Colorado River hundreds of hundreds of miles away by
hundreds of hundreds of miles away by
hundreds of hundreds of miles away by having this local supply of water in
having this local supply of water in
having this local supply of water in Orange County this opens up those
Orange County this opens up those
Orange County this opens up those supplies for other cities in California
supplies for other cities in California
supplies for other cities in California to date we have made 230 billion gallons
to date we have made 230 billion gallons
to date we have made 230 billion gallons of purified water that’s enough to fill
of purified water that’s enough to fill
of purified water that’s enough to fill the Coliseum in Rome over 750 times so
the Coliseum in Rome over 750 times so
the Coliseum in Rome over 750 times so the engineering the science behind
the engineering the science behind
the engineering the science behind recycling water is proven is defendable
recycling water is proven is defendable
recycling water is proven is defendable it’s nothing new however the public
it’s nothing new however the public
it’s nothing new however the public perception of drinking water that was
perception of drinking water that was
perception of drinking water that was once sewer water is harder to overcome
once sewer water is harder to overcome
once sewer water is harder to overcome this is slowly gaining acceptance
this is slowly gaining acceptance
this is slowly gaining acceptance through public outrage through education
through public outrage through education
through public outrage through education things like talks like these where
things like talks like these where
things like talks like these where education and and people are realizing
education and and people are realizing
education and and people are realizing that water is water most recently and
that water is water most recently and
that water is water most recently and interestingly in recycled water has been
interestingly in recycled water has been
interestingly in recycled water has been gaining acceptance through beer my
gaining acceptance through beer my
gaining acceptance through beer my husband he believes that humans can’t go
husband he believes that humans can’t go
husband he believes that humans can’t go more than a few days without beer so
more than a few days without beer so
more than a few days without beer so this is this is a huge advantage for
this is this is a huge advantage for
this is this is a huge advantage for recycled water you can also come up with
recycled water you can also come up with
recycled water you can also come up with very creative names for a recycled water
very creative names for a recycled water
very creative names for a recycled water beer waste water wheat recycled red ale
beer waste water wheat recycled red ale
beer waste water wheat recycled red ale drop in a logger these are just a few
drop in a logger these are just a few
drop in a logger these are just a few names Stone Brewing Company also just
names Stone Brewing Company also just
names Stone Brewing Company also just came out with their recycled water beer
came out with their recycled water beer
came out with their recycled water beer they’re calling it full circle Pale Ale
so you all have a chance today to get
so you all have a chance today to get over the yuck factor and I’m challenging
over the yuck factor and I’m challenging
over the yuck factor and I’m challenging you you can all reach down below your
you you can all reach down below your
you you can all reach down below your seats and there’s a bottle of water
seats and there’s a bottle of water
seats and there’s a bottle of water that is under your seats take a look at
that is under your seats take a look at
that is under your seats take a look at your bottle of water it looks very much
your bottle of water it looks very much
your bottle of water it looks very much like a bottle of water that you can
like a bottle of water that you can
like a bottle of water that you can purchase in a grocery store the water is
purchase in a grocery store the water is
purchase in a grocery store the water is clear as you can see and so you can go
clear as you can see and so you can go
clear as you can see and so you can go ahead and open your bottle of water and
ahead and open your bottle of water and
ahead and open your bottle of water and take a sip so what does it taste like
take a sip so what does it taste like
take a sip so what does it taste like water it tastes like water because it is
water it tastes like water because it is
water it tastes like water because it is water so myself my husband my kids the
water so myself my husband my kids the
water so myself my husband my kids the residents in Orange County who’ve been
residents in Orange County who’ve been
residents in Orange County who’ve been drinking recycled water for the last ten
drinking recycled water for the last ten
drinking recycled water for the last ten years to help supplement water supplies
years to help supplement water supplies
years to help supplement water supplies even during droughts we’ve all gotten
even during droughts we’ve all gotten
even during droughts we’ve all gotten over it
over it
over it we’ve gotten over the fact that this
we’ve gotten over the fact that this
we’ve gotten over the fact that this water comes from wastewater and realized
water comes from wastewater and realized
water comes from wastewater and realized that all water is recycled and this is
that all water is recycled and this is
that all water is recycled and this is pure water from the gwrs system Cheers
pure water from the gwrs system Cheers
pure water from the gwrs system Cheers and thank you
and thank you
and thank you [Applause]
”
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