USA is looking at innovative ways to re-use more of its water , including putting treated wastewater to good uses . For example , on an average summer ’ s day the University of Oklahoma uses 500,000 gallons of treated effluent to irrigate its golf course .

The bulk of Norman ’ s water supply is treated at the city ’ s WTP , which was built in 1965 . The plant was expanded in 1981 , increasing its capacity from 7 to 14 mgd , and again in 2010 , when the Phase I upgrade added a generator and a new clarifier , replaced the filter system , upgraded much of the electrical system and replaced lime slakers . Today it can deliver 17 mgd of treated water . However , as technology evolved and regulatory demands on water and process quality from the Department of Environmental Quality ( DEQ ) became more stringent , it became apparent that the City needed to look at a complete upgrade of the disinfection processes at the WTP . The City embarked on Phase II , a project that will see the introduction of ultraviolet light ( UV ) as the primary disinfection process , new ozone and chemical processes , a new pumping

– Chris Mattingly , City of Norman Capital Projects Engineer

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