Letter: Toilet to tap again
The amount of water on our planet has not changed since the earth was formed. Moisture from ocean evaporation forms clouds which rain on land. This fills the rivers and streams. We draw this water for use in cities, farms and industry. Effluent is treated and almost pure water is dumped back into the rivers. Downstream users draw water that has been used upstream and is treated before delivery to local customers. What's left eventually winds up back in the ocean.
It's the same water that has been used and reused countless times over the centuries. "Toilet to tap" is just a proposal to reuse treated effluent locally by mixing it with "new" river water and treating the mixture instead of dumping it back in the river. It's a way to assure supply during dry periods. It just means less will be available downstream temporarily.
Morton Smith
