During a recent conversation, someone told me that of all the days of the year, Valentine’s Day was the most popular day for sewer and wastewater treatment tours. I was skeptical at first, but a simple Google search confirms the statement — at least in New York. London and Paris sewer tours are also incredibly popular. I’d much prefer the sweet scent of a bouquet of roses over city sewers, but hey, to each his own!
This odd bit of trivia came about during a discussion on water reuse — specifically wastewater reuse systems. Communities across the country are incorporating water reuse into their water management strategies as a proven method for ensuring a safe, reliable, locally controlled water supply. Per the Water Reuse Association, by 2027, the volume of recycled water produced in the United States is projected to increase 37% from 4.8 billion gallons per day to 6.6 billion gallons per day, according to a survey by Bluefield Research.