U.S. Water News Online
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Tempe officials say they will soon be filling Town Lake with treated wastewater.
Although it may not sound appealing, city officials say reclaimed wastewater would actually be cleaner than the water currently flowing into Town Lake.
"Some people get a funny look on their face when you mention it, but I don't have any comments from people who said out and out this is something they wouldn't accept," said Basil Boyd, a Tempe water resources hydrologist.
Tempe wants to fill the lake with treated sewer water as a way of conserving the drinking water supply.
The lake is now filled with water from water wells and Colorado River water that crosses the desert via the Central Arizona Project.
Those sources can be used to quench a thirsty central Arizona.
Treated water from sewage plants nearly meets drinking water standards but can't be used for that, so city officials say switching water sources would free up water for drinking.
Because Tempe Town Lake would still meet safety standards, the biggest hurdle would be the public perception of using treated wastewater, said Don Hawkes, Tempe's water utilities manager.
"That's something that we'll need to educate people about," Hawkes said.
For the plan to be put into service, Tempe needs to install a $10.7 million, 5-mile pipeline from the sewage plant to the lake. It also needs state environmental officials to agree to it.
It could take two years to put treated water in the lake, Tempe city officials said.
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