Taking the pee: loo water may be recycled for drinking
Ministers explore attitudes towards ‘toilet to tap’ project to prevent supplies running dry in droughts
LAVATORY waste could be converted into drinking water under so-called “toilet to tap” proposals being explored by ministers, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose.
A study has been commissioned by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) examining “public attitudes and public acceptability towards water recycling as a source for drinking water”.
The £53,000 contract for the research states that the idea is being explored due to concerns that a combination of global warming and population growth “may put greater pressure on water availability”, with some areas of the UK facing shortages by the 2050s.
But the document admits that a number of waste water recycling schemes “were rejected in the US” having become known as “toilet to tap” and “sewerage beverage”.
It follows anger among MPs and members of the public over the extent to which water companies have been dumping untreated sewage into rivers across the country.
Currently, waste water is generally cleaned and filtered at sewage works before being safely pumped back into rivers. Under the plans being explored by the Government, sewage water would be treated and then pumped directly into the public water supply.
A major waste water recycling plant was opened in 2008 in droughthit Orange County in California, and dubbed “showers to flowers” by its supporters.
The Defra contract, drawn up in the name of George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, requires Cranfield University in Bedford to “undertake a social science study of public perceptions of water recycling” and “provide a final report including recommendations and strategies to inform the public on water recycling”.
The contract states: “A potential source of water is the recycling (or reuse) of wastewater ... More understanding is required on the public acceptability and public perception of planned recycling of wastewater for potable water use.”
It highlights World Health Organisation guidance which states that the “success of potable reuse depends on the ability to gain public confidence and trust”. The guidance warns that information about such proposals “should be made readily available to the public so they understand the background, context and available options” and that it is important to “use positive terms” to describe the process.
The study follows a consultation launched last year by Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate – the three water regulators.
It stated: “Our water resources are coming under increasing pressure from population growth, economic development, and climate change ... While water shortages are forecast to be most acute in the south and south east of England, severe drought is a widespread risk that needs to be managed.
“These factors all contribute to a growing sense of urgency that we need to act now to develop new strategic resource solutions to avoid severe restrictions to water use in the coming years.”