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Jason Assouline talks Prairie Waters | WaterWorld

As water scarcity continues to challenge communities in arid regions like Colorado, innovative solutions are essential to building a sustainable water future. In a recent interview with WaterWorld, Carollo’s Jason Assouline, water reuse chief engineer, joined Kevin Linder, advanced water treatment superintendent for Aurora Water, to discuss the groundbreaking Prairie Waters direct potable reuse project.

This project represents Colorado’s first direct potable reuse system, marking a significant step toward water sustainability.

Addressing Water Scarcity in Colorado

“In Colorado, we live in a high plains desert, so water scarcity is a big issue for us. Being able to efficiently use the resources we have is very critical,” says Kevin. Aurora Water’s Prairie Waters system originally came online in 2010 as a response to water scarcity and the need for drought resilience. Now, the system is evolving to include direct potable reuse, a transformative step toward creating a diverse and secure water portfolio for the community.

Advancing Reuse with Proven Treatment Technologies

The Prairie Waters project incorporates advanced carbon-based treatment technologies, which have been proven effective worldwide in various forms. “Carbon-based advanced treatment has been around for a long time,” explains Jason. “It’s nothing new, but having all of these different treatment processes is important as engineers and utilities work together to come up with the best solution for every installation and reuse scheme.”

This collaborative approach underscores the importance of tailoring treatment systems to meet the specific needs of each community.

Direct Potable Reuse: A Model for Inland Communities

One of the project’s unique challenges is brine disposal in Colorado’s inland location, a common obstacle for many water reuse efforts. The design of Prairie Waters systems addresses these complexities, paving the way for other inland communities to adopt similar approaches.

To learn more about Aurora Water’s innovative Prairie Waters project and hear from the experts behind its success, watch the full WaterWorld interview: