From desalination to wastewater recycling, California officials are promoting more reclamation projects as the Southwest remains in drought.
As the Colorado River becomes a less and less reliable source of water, Southern California water agencies are bracing for necessary cuts in imported water and building more water treatment plants that can recycle and reuse water.
As Pam McFarland explains in Engineering News-Record, cities like Los Angeles, which imports 70% of its water, are building multibillion-dollar programs to treat and recycle wastewater for public consumption. "More municipal agencies are implementing indirect potable reuse projects to treat water to drinking water standards and filter it through spreading grounds, groundwater basins, injection wells or aquifers before the new supply enters the drinking water distribution system. Many of those same agencies are contemplating direct potable, where the water flows directly into drinking water pipes, down the road."
The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District in Malibu is experimenting with an offshore desalination project that could produce about one million gallons of water per day while reducing the environmental impacts of onshore desalination plants.
Read the full story: Southern California Agencies Mount Massive Push for Water Reuse
Federal proposal calls for mandatory water cuts to Arizona, California and Nevada
The Bureau of Reclamation stepped in after states failed to come to an agreement over Colorado River water use reductions.
New agreement would let Arizona, Nevada use water from California desalination plant
The plan will help reduce strain on Lake Mead during extreme drought periods.
Where water recycling is working
Orange County, California and Las Vegas are leaders in water recycling in the United States.
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