You have to take water seriously when living in the semi-arid West. We get about 15 inches of moisture annually in southeastern Wyoming, although at times this summer it’s felt as if 15 inches were falling in each storm. But we’re about average now, after a so-so snow year and a dry spring.
That’s why it was great news to hear about the City of Cheyenne winning an award for its innovative water recycling project, which saves the city a million gallons of water per day. The Environmental Protection Agency, a federal office that’s almost as beloved in WYO at the Bureau of Land Management, gave Cheyenne is PISCES award. It recognizes the creative use of federal funds to "improve wastewater restructure."
Cheyenne cleanses its waste water with "beneficial bacteria" and untraviolet light to turn it into "Class A" recycled water which is then used to water city parks. Clint Bassett, water conservation specialist with the Board of Public Utilities, says that this water would have been clean enough to meet drinking water standards 30 years ago. It also saves the city money.
I’ll think about this when I pay my next BOPU bill. I have to use regular city water on my lawn, which costs $3.59 per thousand gallons. Recycled water costs $2.70 per thousand gallons. But how would I get access to it? I’d need separate pipes, which would be an investment for me and for the city. I guess I’ll just have to look forward to the day that all city water is purified recycled water. And that day may not be too far off.
Rock Springs and Green River are two other Wyoming towns with recycling projects. More to come, I’m sure, in this land of little rain but lots of wind.
Speaking of wind, when will each of our houses be equipped with energy-producing windmills? I have seen some of these smaller units in back of rural homes. There’s a guy on the road from Laramie to Centennial who uses solar panels and a windmill for his prairie home’s energy needs. He undoubtedly has a well for water.
These are the innovative people that will give us energy sufficiency in the future. A great time to be a power innovator, or an engineer in environmentally friendly energy production. Writers, notoriously worthless in these areas, can at least spread the word.
1 comment:
Mike,
The Blauvelt Dominicans did keep their leanings to themselves but that was a long time ago.
Today they count among their number many progressive women. A few even could be considered radical.
Go to their web site, www.opblauvelt.org and see for yourself.
Best always,
JAB
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