title: Modeling the Economic Feasibility of Large-Scale Net-Zero Water Management: A Case Study.
abstract: While municipal direct potable water reuse (DPR) has been recommended for consideration by the U.S. National Research Council, it is unclear how to size new closed-loop DPR plants, termed "net-zero water (NZW) plants", to minimize cost and energy demand assuming upgradient water distribution. Based on a recent model optimizing the economics of plant scale for generalized conditions, the authors evaluated the feasibility and optimal scale of NZW plants for treatment capacity expansion in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Local data on population distribution and topography were input to compare projected costs for NZW vs the current plan. Total cost was minimized at a scale of 49 NZW plants for the service population of 671,823. Total unit cost for NZW systems, which mineralize chemical oxygen demand to below normal detection limits, is projected at ~$10.83 / 1000 gal, approximately 13% above the current plan and less than rates reported for several significant U.S. cities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Tianjiao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Englehardt
authors.forename: Howard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Fallon
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis*; D005431:Florida; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018508:Water Purification / Q000191:economics*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000191:economics*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water