California’s New Regulations for Wastewater Recycling

Treated wastewater now able to be turned directly into tap water

Water recycling, once referred to as “toilet-to-tap” by critics, has entered a new phase in California. This month, new statewide regulations for “direct potable reuse” came into effect. These rules allow wastewater — including what goes down drains and toilets — to be treated to drinking water standards and distributed directly to homes and businesses.

Previously, California only permitted “indirect potable reuse,” where treated wastewater is injected into underground aquifers for further natural filtration before being delivered through pipelines. The new regulations for direct potable reuse eliminate this step, sending highly treated wastewater directly to drinking water treatment plants before it is distributed.