首页
登录
职称英语
This summer, Texas’ drought of the century is an uncomfortable reminder that
This summer, Texas’ drought of the century is an uncomfortable reminder that
游客
2023-12-22
64
管理
问题
This summer, Texas’ drought of the century is an uncomfortable reminder that often there just isn’t enough water to go around. But the 40 consecutive days of triple-digit temperatures and minuscule rainfall may also be boosting the case for a new freshwater source being developed in Big Spring, Texas, and surrounding cities. With a waste-water-to-drinking-water treatment plant now under construction, Big Spring will soon join the growing list of cities that use recycled sewage water for drinking water—a practice that the squeamish call "toilet to tap. " The trend is expanding as climbing temperatures and dry weather across the West force environmentalists, politicians, and citizens to find newer, better solutions to freshwater resources.
"It’ s really a natural and cost-effective[solution]when you don’t have another, resource available," says David Sedlak, professor of civil and environmental engineering of the Berkeley Water Center at the University of California, Berkeley. "We have to recognize that as the population of the country continues to move out into the West and as climate change continually reduces the water supply, these issues are going to become more and more important. " The $ 13 million Big Spring Water Reclamation Plant, due to open early next year, will pump 2 million gallons of water each day to Big Spring and three nearby cities—Stanton, Midland, and Odessa—using the waste water produced by area residents.
"The neat thing about it is that we’ll be able to use 100 percent of the water, 100 percent of the time," says John Grant, general manager of Colorado River Municipal Water District, which serves Big Spring. Mr. Grant, who began looking into alternative water supplies nearly 12 years ago, says public feedback runs the gamut from "There’s no way I’m going to drink this" to "Why haven’t y’ all done this sooner?" Water reuse plants are not new, and municipalities in states from California to Florida have them.
In southern California, the largest water purification plant in the world produces 70 million gallons of water every day using recycled sewage water. The $ 480 million Groundwater Replenishment System(GRS)in Orange County takes already-treated waste water from the sanitation district next door and sends it through a rigorous three-step cleaning process to produce high-quality water that tastes like bottled water, says Michael Markus, general manager of the Orange County Water District.
The water first undergoes microfiltration to eradicate suspended solids, protozoa, bacteria, and some viruses. Second, it undergoes reverse osmosis—a process commonly used for improving water for drinking by forcing it through a filter. Finally, high-intensity ultraviolet light combined with hydrogen peroxide destroys any remaining organic compounds. "We need to find ways to find more reliable sources of water, and recycling is the best way to do that," Mr. Markus says. "This is a source we can count on and control. "
The GRS is classified as an indirect potable reuse plant, which means its purified output doesn’ t go directly into the drinking water distribution system. Instead, the water is piped to a large ground water basin, where it sits for about six months. The aquifer serves as an environmental buffer between the purification plant and the tap. "From a public perception standpoint, if you take[the water]back to the environment, the public’s memory of where it’s been is taken away," says UC Berkeley’s Mr. Sedlak.
The biggest hurdle in water reuse is public acceptance—or the "yuck factor," say experts. "Toilet to tap" is unappealing to many people even though the water is high-quality and pure. "That’s a stigma that people need to get over," says Davis Ford, adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin and an expert in environmental and water resources engineering. "[Water reuse]is not new science. It’s absolutely safe with the disinfection we have ... it’s good-quality water. " [br] Introduce briefly the public feedback to the "toilet to tap" practice.
选项
答案
different responses from the public to such water treatment/the examples of two opposite views/ "There’s no way I’m going to drink this": a strong attitude opposing the treatment of sewage water for drinking water/"Why haven’t y"all done this sooner": an attitude supporting such treatment/hoping the practice should be implemented out earlier/Mr. Grant uses the word "gamut"(a whole range of opinions)to show various attitudes in the public feedback towards the treatment of water reuse
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/3295567.html
相关试题推荐
Oneday,droughtmaybeathingofthepast,atleastinanycountrynottoo
Oneday,droughtmaybeathingofthepast,atleastinanycountrynottoo
[originaltext]Thesummerjobweadvertisedisstillavailable.Ifyouareinter
[originaltext]Thesummerjobweadvertisedisstillavailable.Ifyouareinter
Emailcapturestheessenceoflifeatthecloseofthe20thcenturywithanauth
Emailcapturestheessenceoflifeatthecloseofthe20thcenturywithanauth
Emailcapturestheessenceoflifeatthecloseofthe20thcenturywithanauth
Eachsummer,nomatterhowpressingmyworkschedule,Itakeoffonedayexc
Eachsummer,nomatterhowpressingmyworkschedule,Itakeoffonedayexc
Eachsummer,nomatterhowpressingmyworkschedule,Itakeoffonedayexc
随机试题
PreparingforChina’sUrbanBillionThescaleandpaceofChina’surbanizatio
根据《支付结算办法》的规定,下列各项中,必须承兑的票据是()。A.支票 B.银
阅读下列说明,回答问题1至问题2,将解答填入答题纸的对应栏内。【说明】某网站设计
政府降低宏观税率意味着( )。A.收入分配在民间和政府相同 B.更多收入从
禁用冷疗的部位不包括A.胸前区 B.足底 C.腹部 D.枕后、耳郭、阴囊
各种运输方式内外部的各个方面的构成和联系,就是( )。 A.运输系统
“手表定律”是指当我们同时拥有两只时间不一样的手表时,反而不知道准确的时间,这对
作为一种力量,文化力不是一种直接作用的力,其显现发挥必然是通过一定的载体或媒介
根管预备时主尖锉应比初尖锉A.至少大1个号 B.至少大2个号 C.至少大3个
在应急管理体系基本框架结构中,下列属于组织体系有的( )A.通息通信 B.人力
最新回复
(
0
)