Denver's Direct Potable Water Reuse Demonstration Project

The Denver Direct Potable Water Reuse Demonstration Project was an initiative to evaluate the feasibility of using treated wastewater, including sewer water, as a source of drinking water in Denver, Colorado. The intent was to demonstrate that the treated water was of sufficient quality to be piped directly into the Denver drinking water system. Conducted between 1979 and 1990, this $30 million project was managed and operated by Denver Water, the city's primary water utility, and was partially funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The project's primary objectives were to assess the safety, quality, technical feasibility, and public and regulatory acceptance of direct potable water reuse.^[1][2]

The central feature of the project was a 1-million-gallon-per-day (mgd) treatment plant, based on advanced water treatment unit operations, continuously producing treated water evaluated for safe production of water for direct consumption. Safety and efficacy as well as technical and economic viability were also evaluated as was public awareness and outreach.^[1]

By the end of the project, all of the objectives were fully satisfied, indicating likely viability of direct potable water reuse.^[2]