State Water Board Delivers Feasibility Report on Using Recycled Water for Drinking

A report released in late December by the State Water Resources Control Board concludes that it is feasible to develop and adopt regulations for using recycled water as drinking water, provided that certain research and key knowledge gaps are addressed.

The report was delivered to the state Legislature, completing a key step toward fulfilling Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s goal of more sustainable water resources, as highlighted in the California Water Action Plan.

Recycled water is part of a multi-faceted effort to diversify California’s water supplies and increase long-term resilience. No other state has yet developed regulations specifically for direct potable reuse.

Senate Bill 918 (Pavley, 2010) and SB 322 (Hueso, 2013) directed the State Water Board to investigate the feasibility of creating regulations for direct potable reuse. The legislation created an Expert Panel and Advisory Group to assist the staff of the State Water Board’s Division of Drinking Water to investigate the feasibility of creating regulations.