California regulators have made a historic decision by approving new rules that will allow water agencies to recycle wastewater and put it right back into the pipes that carry drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses. This decision comes after the state has struggled to secure reliable sources of drinking water for its more than 39 million residents for decades. It is seen as a significant step forward and signals a change in public opinion on the subject. This move is a response to the multiple extreme droughts California has faced, including the most recent one, which scientists say was the driest three-year period on record, leaving the state's reservoirs at dangerously low levels.

California approves lavatory-to-faucet water recycling https://t.co/isA7QlaU8N

— The Register (@TheRegister) December 19, 2023

Jennifer West, managing director of WateReuse California, a group advocating for recycled water, emphasized the importance of using water more than once in a state where water is so precious. The new rules would allow water agencies to treat wastewater and then put it back into the drinking water system, making California only the second state to allow this, following Colorado. It has taken regulators more than 10 years to develop these rules, a process that included multiple reviews by independent panels of scientists.

The regulations were also a response to a state law requiring the California Water Resources Control Board to approve them by December 31, a deadline that was met just days before. The vote was celebrated by some of the state's largest water agencies, which all have plans to build huge water recycling plants in the coming years. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves 19 million people, aims to produce up to 150 million gallons per day of both direct and indirect recycled water. Additionally, a project in San Diego is aiming to account for nearly half of the city's water by 2035.

The new rules will require the wastewater to be treated for all pathogens and viruses, even if they aren't in the wastewater. This rigorous treatment removes all the minerals that make fresh drinking water taste good, meaning they have to be added back at the end of the process. Despite the expense and time-consuming nature of building these treatment facilities, it is a necessary step for the future water supply in California given the frequency of droughts and the impact of climate change.

Water agencies will need public support to complete these projects, and convincing customers that recycled water is safe to drink will be a crucial task. It will also be important to educate the public on the high-tech processes that ensure the water is clean and safe for drinking. With the new regulations in place, California is setting the stage for a more sustainable and reliable water future for its residents.