Where else is wastewater recycling done?

In Southern California, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties have water reuse projects to address their limited local and imported supplies of fresh water. Desalination, recycled water and advanced water purification are all utilized and recognized as necessary for water supply reliability in an area heavily reliant on water being conveyed hundreds of miles to reach its taps. While providing potable water is an obvious benefit, reduction in ocean discharge, limiting saltwater intrusion into clean water supplies, and providing green energy from the bi-products of the process are all added bonuses.

Recycled water is used in Fairfax, Virginia and El Paso, Texas in reservoirs and underground storage basins that are a source of drinking water for the cities. Communities like Las Vegas also treat their wastewater and release it into the Colorado River, which is a major source of San Diego's water, meaning we are already drinking treated wastewater every day.

Across the world we see various countries utilizing water reuse methods to help alleviate their water challenges. In Israel, the Sorek Desalination Plant is the largest reverse-osmosis desalination facility in the world producing enough water to provide for 1.5 million people every day. Singapore uses its 17 reservoirs, five water recycling plants and three desalination plants to clean and distribute water to its residents. In Australia, the Beenyup Wastewater Treatment Plant is producing 35 mgd of recycled wastewater to supply its 600,000 residents. Recognizing the need for and benefits of water reuse, they are currently expanding their facility to double the amount of water treated daily.