Water Recycling 2030: Recommendations of California’s Recycled Water Task Force

Assembly Bill No. 331 was passed by the California Legislature, and signed into law by Governor Gray Davis on October 7, 2001. The bill required the creation of the 2002 Recycled Water Task Force (Task Force) to identify constraints, impediments, and opportunities for the increased use of recycled water and report to the Legislature by July 1, 2003. Although water recycling includes treatment of a broad range of wastewater sources, the Task Force decided to focus on the planned reuse of treated municipal wastewater; specifically, the financial/economic, regulatory, and social issues that typically arise in water recycling projects.

Representatives of federal, State, and local agencies, private entities, environmental organizations, universities, concerned individuals and public-interest groups were appointed to the 40-member Task Force in April 2002. The Task Force includes experts in the field of water recycling,  including those involved in the production and use of recycled water, public health officials, world-renowned researchers, environmental organizations, and the public. The Task Force established committees (workgroups) to focus on specific topics of concern and produce reports that served as a basis of Task Force decision-making. The Department of Water Resources (DWR), the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), and the DHS provided technical assistance to the Task Force and its workgroups.

DHS’ regulations prescribe the level of treatment necessary for the various uses of recycled water. In general, the public has accepted these regulations as being adequate for protection of public health. There are successful indirect potable reuse projects involving groundwater recharge in California and new projects continue to be proposed. However, in some instances, the public has not been receptive to the concept of using recycled water to recharge groundwater basins that serve as drinking water supply sources.

Some indirect potable reuse proposals have been mischaracterized by images of recycled water being fed directly into drinking water pipeline systems. The Task Force found the need to involve the public much earlier in the decision-making process for projects, to make the process much more transparent and to provide facts early on in project planning. Therefore, the Task Force devoted considerable attention to issues surrounding public health and the need for increased education and outreach related to the facts and scientific research about recycled water.