Daytona Beach explores turning wastewater into drinking water

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Daytona Beach is working with the state to explore whether it can take water from the toilet to the tap.

The city’s pilot program examining the process wrapped in October.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Deputy Utilities Director Eric Smith said it is an option cities are exploring as there is a need to find alternative water sources to accommodate the 1,000 people moving to Florida each day.

Smith said the information gleaned from the Daytona Beach study could help the state establish standards for the process.

READ: Publix heiress Carol Jenkins Barnett dead at 65

“This facility was able to meet the primary and secondary drinking water standards,” he said.

The process starts with water coming through the system as part of the filtration process. Next, the treated water goes through reverse osmosis before it is tested to see if it meets drinking water standards. During the process, Smith said, the water never leaves the facility or enters the city’s drinking supply.

READ: Seminole County sheriff announces arrests in major gambling bust

He emphasized that, at this time, there are no plans for the city to use treated wastewater in the drinking supply. 

The city will take what it learned over the last two years and compile a report to help the state decide next steps.

READ: Daytona Beach Commission approves deal with Amazon for distribution facility promising 1,000 jobs

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.