Workshop on Advancing Direct Potable Reuse as a Sustainable Water Supply by Engaging the Environmental Community

1450509布朗研讨会上推进直接饮用水再利用作为一个可持续的水供应，通过参与环境社区南加州，事实上，美国西南部的干旱已经刺激人们开始讨论替代供水。 最可持续的供应之一是将废水用于直接饮用再利用（DPR）。DPR是将废水处理到可饮用标准并将其返回饮用水供应的过程。它作为一种具有多种环境效益的供应替代品，特别是对干旱和遭受旱灾的社区而言，正日益受到关注。然而，由于技术知识的差距和实现公众接受的协议不足，DPR在美国没有得到广泛实施。环境社区在宣传和公共宣传方面发挥着重要作用，支持开发安全，可靠和具有成本效益的供水项目;然而，他们需要更多的信息来更好地了解DPR和支持DPR作为可持续社区资源的实施方法。有了这些知识，环境界可以成为更广泛社区内DPR的有力支持者。拟议的研讨会将提供当前DPR研究的概述，解决挑战，并建议成功的社区外展战略。研讨会将于2015年秋季在南加州举行。可能的主题领域包括DPR研究和应用，监管问题，公共卫生问题，外展挑战和提高公众接受度。受邀发言者将包括在这些专题领域具有专门知识和经验的学者和水资源专业人员。来自美国亚利桑那州、加州州、内华达州和得克萨斯州等干旱州的非营利环保组织的执行董事和公共推广经理将参加研讨会。研讨会的目的和方法包括：（1）组织一个论坛，让环保组织更多地了解DPR及其作为可持续供水的作用;（2）由研究专家就DPR的技术和社会方面以及监管机构的代表进行演讲;（3）将与会者分成工作组，以确定挑战，战略和解决方案，以帮助环境组织支持和推进DPR作为可持续供水;（4）编写一份讲习班最后报告，分发给环境界、水事机构以及政策制定者和决策者。该研讨会旨在解决这样一个问题：“环境界可以采取哪些方法来推进DPR作为一种可持续的供水？“研讨会的最后报告包括发言摘要、工作组报告和建议，将由环境管理员和西北资源研究所编写，并由这两个小组分发给环境界和水行业各自的网络。该研讨会将弥合科学界（学术研究人员），工程界（水处理和供应机构），环境界（非营利组织）和政策制定者之间的差距。虽然最近有一些针对学术界和从事饮用水再利用工作的水专业人员的外联活动，但一直缺乏专门针对环境界对可持续社区的兴趣和在推进DPR中的作用的资源。拟议的讲习班和最后报告将分发给环境界，将加强对DPR的技术和社会理解，为从业人员和支持者提供必要的工具和知识，以获得公众的接受和支持适当的政策措施。DPR的社会效益包括提供本地控制的供水资源，比其他供应方案（如海洋脱盐和进口输送）需要更少的能源，并通过减少废水排放来保护海洋和内陆地表水质量。最后报告将加强环境界的外联、教育和宣传工作。

1450509BrownWorkshop on Advancing Direct Potable Reuse as a Sustainable Water Supply by Engaging the Environmental CommunityThe drought in Southern California and in fact the US Southwest has stimulated people to start to discuss alternative water supplies. One of the most sustainable supplies is the use of wastewater for direct potable reuse (DPR). DPR is the process of treating wastewater to drinkable standards and returning it into the potable supply. It is gaining attention as a supply alternative with multiple environmental benefits, particularly for arid and drought-ridden communities. However, DPR is not widely implemented in the U.S. due to gaps in technical knowledge and insufficient protocols for achieving public acceptance. The environmental community, which holds a prominent role in advocacy and public outreach, supports the development of safe, reliable, and cost effective water supply projects; however, they need more information to better understand DPR and approaches to support the implementation of DPR as a sustainable community resource. Armed with this knowledge, the environmental community can become a strong proponent of DPR within the broader community. The proposed workshop will provide an overview of current DPR research, address challenges, and recommend strategies for successful community outreach. The workshop will be held in the fall of 2015 in Southern California. Possible topic areas include DPR research and applications, regulatory issues, public health concerns, outreach challenges, and enhancing public acceptance. Invited speakers will include academics and water professionals with expertise and experience in these topic areas. Attendees will include executive directors and public outreach managers of environmental nonprofit organizations from arid states such as Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas.The objectives and methods for the workshop include: (1) Organizing a forum for environmental groups to learn more about DPR and its role as a sustainable water supply; (2) Providing presentations by research experts on the technical and social aspects of DPR and representatives from regulatory agencies; (3) Dividing attendees into working groups to identify challenges, strategies, and solutions to help environmental groups support and advance DPR as a sustainable water supply; (4) Producing a final workshop report for dissemination among the environmental community, water agencies, and policy and decision makers. The workshop is designed to address the question, "What approaches can the environmental community implement to advance DPR as a sustainable water supply?" A final workshop report that includes summaries of the presentations, working group reports, and recommendations will be developed by Coastkeeper and NWRI and disseminated by the two groups to their respective networks within the environmental community and water industry. The workshop will bridge a gap between the scientific community (academic researchers), the engineering community (water treatment and supply agencies), the environmental community (nonprofit organizations), and policymakers. While there have been a number of recent outreach initiatives designed for academia and water professionals working in potable reuse, there has been a lack of resources designed to specifically address the environmental community's interest in sustainable communities and role in advancing DPR. The proposed workshop and final report, which will be disseminated to the environmental community, will enhance the technical and social understanding of DPR, giving practitioners and proponents the tools and knowledge necessary to achieve public acceptance and support appropriate policy measures. The societal benefits of DPR include providing a water supply resource that is locally controlled, requires less energy than other supply options (such as ocean desalination and imported deliveries), and protects oceanic and inland surface water quality by reducing wastewater discharge. The final report will enhance outreach, education, and advocacy efforts by the environmental community.