Current and Future Wastewater Reuse in Texas

The reuse of treated wastewater effluent has served as a source of water supply in Texas for decades. While this has often occurred without detailed planning, the formal, planned reuse of treated wastewater effluent is increasing rapidly in the state, especially in the area around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.To plan for the increased water demand, Texas has been divided into 16 regional planning areas. Each region has developed a regional water plan that will be incorporated into a state water plan and will address various management strategies. Water reuse is one of the major strategies planned to meet Texas's growing water needs by the year 2060.The development of additional water supplies from reuse have been encouraged by ongoing and projected growth in population and municipal water needs, increasing levels of wastewater treatment, the continued development of membrane and created wetland treatment technologies, and the increasing difficulty of permitting and developing other water supply sources.This paper discusses the current status of laws governing reuse and of reuse water supply projects, describes some selected current projects, describes planned reuse projects, discusses specific drivers and challenges for reuse projects in Texas, and discusses the significance of reuse as a supply for the state.