Where I live in Oregon we get about 40% of our water from resevoirs in the Coast Range and about 60% of our water directly from the Willamette River. However, we are far upstream of any major urban areas (Eugene is upstream of us, but they keep things pretty clean, considering), and so the level of pollution in the Willamette at our point in the river is certainly not what it is at Portland or even Salem.
The City of Corvallis conducts both primary and secondary treatment. Water is then pumped back into the river downstream of the collection point. The water returned to the river at that point is cleaner than the water taken out to be processed. The sludge taken out from the water in the primary stage is then used as fertilizer in local farm fields.
My uncle used to be the environmental engineer who oversaw the water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities in Orlando, FL and is now responsible for the design of many wastewater facilities here in the PacNW. I know way more about wastewater than I probably should because of him, but then he is also the one who made me more enviromentally conscious--and that's always a good thing.
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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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