For Immediate Release
December 19, 2023
Contacts:
Jennifer West, Managing Director, WateReuse California
, (916) 496-1470
Ben Glickstein, Communications Director, WateReuse Association
, (571) 445-5513
Sacramento, CA – Following years of research, collaboration, and public engagement, California’s State Water Resources Control Board is voting today to adopt new regulations allowing for direct potable reuse. Direct potable reuse is a practice which uses multiple phases of proven advanced water treatment technology to transform recycled water into safe, reliable purified water, for blending directly into a community’s existing drinking water system.
California is a pioneer in purifying recycled water for use in drinking systems. In the 1960s, the Montebello Forebay Ground Water Recharge Project in Los Angeles made history by recharging a drinking water aquifer with purified recycled water. Today, communities across the state use purified water to recharge groundwater, reservoirs, and rivers, in a practice known as indirect potable reuse. The new regulations create additional flexibility by allowing advanced purified water to be added directly into drinking water systems where it isn’t feasible to first blend it into a larger body.
“WateReuse California commends the State Water Board on adopting regulations that protect public health while providing a vital new tool for California’s sustainable water future,” said David Pedersen, General Manager of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District and President of WateReuse California. “WateReuse California has collaborated with the Water Board and countless stakeholders for over a decade to reach this important milestone.”
“Today heralds a new era of water reuse, making it possible for more communities across California to benefit from an abundant, safe, resilient, and local water supply, and serving as an example to other states” said Patricia Sinicropi, Executive Director of the WateReuse Association.
“These new regulations are a tremendous step forward as we develop Pure Water Southern California, which will be one of the largest recycled water facilities in the world and benefit 19 million people in our service area,” said Deven Upadhyay, Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Vice President of the WateReuse Association. “Pursuing direct potable reuse for a portion of the supplies produced at our Pure Water facility will allow us to better manage the weather extremes we face from a changing climate. We applaud the state board for developing this new resource, while making public health the top priority.”
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The WateReuse Association is the nation’s only trade association solely dedicated to advancing laws, policy, funding, and public acceptance of recycled water. WateReuse California is a state section of WateReuse Association. Our membership includes utilities that recycle water, businesses that support the development of recycled water projects, and consumers of recycled water.