Water is becoming something that is in short supply, meaning we
may soon be drinking reclaimed wastewater, especially in the
desert states of the West (which, ironically, are the fastest-
growing areas of the US). We know our drinking water is laced
with prescription medicines, but WHAT ELSE is in there--and can
it be removed before we drink it? San Diego is trying to do just
that, with a water treatment plant that cost $13 million and
produces a million gallons of potable water daily. A new report
from the National Academy of Sciences reveals that if coastal
cities used advanced treatment procedures on the wastewater
(from things like flushed toilets) that is now sent out to sea,
it could increase the amount of drinking water available by as
much as 27%. Singapore is open about the problem--and with 5
million people in a small land area, they need to be. About 15%
of Singapore's water comes from treated effluent--they call it
"NEWater." While most of it is used for irrigation or
manufacturing; some of it is u