States like Colorado and water suppliers in parts of Southern California are expanding the use of recycled wastewater to protect dwindling drinking water supplies.
To address ongoing water shortages created by climate change and increasing populations in the Western United States, more states and cities that rely on the Colorado River are turning to recycled wastewater to keep the taps flowing.
Colorado water quality regulators recently gave preliminary clearance for potable reuse—treating and recycling waste water for human consumption. Southern California cities are also expanding potable reuse, following the lead of water suppliers in Orange County.
According to the coverage of the expanding use of recycled wastewater in Colorado, most states don't prohibit the use of recycled wastewater, but Colorado hopes that setting new standards can help increase the scale of facilities and output in the future.
FULL STORY: Colorado to reuse wastewater for drinking, creating new supply
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