As Puget Sound looks forward to welcoming several million more residents in coming decades, strains on supplies of potable water will likely grow even as current expansion projects come on line. Which will make it even more vital to get creative in expanding sources. An example comes from this Bremerton Sun story (free reg. req.).

Port Orchard -- The Karcher Creek Sewer District has received a $200,000 grant to plan use of a byproduct from the expanded Retsil sewage treatment plant. A $22 million expansion is nearing completion on plant jointly operated by the sewer district and the city of Port Orchard. The modernized treatment will produce millions of gallons of treated water that can be used in public irrigation. Dick Fitzwater, the sewer district's general manager, said that for an estimated $4 million, that water can be delivered uphill to the Orchard Heights area where South Kitsap School District has three schools, Kitsap County has the Village Greens Golf Course and South Kitsap Parks and Recreation District has South Kitsap Community Park.

They'll have to find that additional $4 million. But if successful, they'll have several hundred thousand more gallons of water per day, for non-potable uses. An added benefit: Class A biosolids - some call it sludge - for fertilizer. (If anyone wants to weigh in the pros and cons of biosolids, have at it).

Regionally, Tacoma's recently-completed Second Supply project is a boon to Pierce County, and southern King county. Major Eastside suburbs in the Cascade Water Alliance will wean themselves from Seattle's municipal water supply if the Lake Tapps deal, finally, really, gets cleared. (That deserves a whole entry of its own - hopefully soon). And better inter-ties between differing regional water systems are a long-term priority, too. But less conventional supply strategies such as repurposed, treated wastewater will be important. As may be de-salination of Puget Sound water. De-sal's cost will be dropping exponentially in coming years. GE has a major de-sal unit, and sees big growth ahead. It would be good to see the inevitable enviro-scare tactics about de-sal get the critical examination they so richly deserve. Even better for Puget Sound to truly secure its water future, crucial for handling projected population and economic growth while simultaneously addressing salmon recovery concerns, which will NOT go away. Any water supply strategy that relies only on conservation isn't enough. The media need to put water utility managers from outside Seattle more in the spotlight. They've got a lot to say, as I discovered.