California has taken a giant leap towards combating climate change and reducing its dependency on the Colorado River. The state water board has given the green light to a groundbreaking regulation that seeks to turn recycled sewage into safe, clean drinking water. While some may find the idea alarming at first, officials emphasize that the process involves extensive treatment before the water reaches the taps.
In California, water recycling is already a common practice, with approximately 25% of the state's wastewater recycled each year. This water is typically treated and reused for irrigation and agricultural purposes. Additionally, some of it undergoes advanced treatment and is injected into groundwater or stored in reservoirs for drinking water purposes. The new regulation permits highly treated wastewater to be further purified using advanced technologies, such as reverse osmosis membranes, carbon filtration, and advanced oxidation. These three layers of protection ensure that the recycled water is of the highest quality and completely safe for consumption.
