Source water impact model (SWIM)--a watershed guided approach as a new planing tool for indirect potable water reuse

The scope of this study was to develop a model to assess the impact of source water quality on reclaimed water used for indirect potable reuse. The source water impact model (SWIM) considered source water qualities, water supply distribution data, water use and the impact of wastewater treatment to calculate reclaimed water quality. It was applied for sulfate, chloride, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) at four water reuse sites in Arizona and California. SWIM was able to differentiate between the amount of salts derived by drinking water sources and the amount added by consumers. At all sites, the magnitude of organic residuals in reclaimed water was strongly effected by the concentration of organics in corresponding water sources and effluent-derived organic matter. SWIM can be used as a tool to predict reclaimed water quality in existing or planned water reuse systems.