The mere idea of putting the treated water that comes out of the wastewater treatment plant back into the city's water supply may gag some Norman water customers.
That water is now being dumped into the Canadian River and sent downstream. Some is also used for irrigating golf courses. But many communities have been using "reclaimed" water for years.
The idea was just one "floated" during a public water forum at City Hall this past week. Norman officials are looking long-range at water supply options, including one plan which proposes Norman participate in a consortium that will pipe water from southeastern Oklahoma to the metropolitan area.
An engineer told forum participants the use of recycled water has been ongoing for many years. Parts of southern California and Arizona, where water is in short supply, have been using the discharge for years. Also, some communities offer the water through a separate pipeline for landscaping. (OU irrigates its golf course with some of Norman's reclaimed water).
A consultant told forum participants that reclaiming water from wastewater treatment would be much cheaper than joining the pipeline consortium. But still, some municipal officials say it's a matter of perception. The water may be clean enough for drinking but the public has to get over the perception that the water is somehow less than sanitary.
