California Embraces Recycling Toilet Water for Drinking Amid Drought
The State Water Resources Control Board in California has voted to allow water companies to pump treated wastewater into residents' taps, making California the first state in the US to adopt regulations for reusing wastewater. The new regulations require at least three separate treatment processes, including ozonation, reverse osmosis, and advanced oxidation, to ensure the water meets or exceeds current drinking water standards. This move aims to address water scarcity and conserve resources in a drought-prone state, while also reducing waste released into natural waterways. Other regions, such as Namibia, Singapore, and some US states, have already implemented similar wastewater recycling systems.
