WateReuse California Review - January 2023

The statewide regulations for Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) were adopted at the December 19 hearing of the State Water Resources Control Board. WRCA has provided a summary and infographic of the major provisions of California’s DPR regulations.

The next step will be approval by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL). The State Board is compiling the full public record which will take several weeks. OAL will then have 45 days to review. If they do not bring forward any suggested changes for consideration, then OAL will post them at the beginning of next quarter; the earliest will be the middle of this summer for them to formally approve and for them to be enforceable regulations.

The version of the regulations attached to the Board hearing December 19, 2023 agenda item is the best document to use.

The adoption of Direct Potable Reuse regulations made the news in a big way! Hundreds of print, digital, and TV outlets covered the story, starting conversations about potable reuse around the world. A few highlights included coverage by New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, Univision, and CalMatters. Jennifer West told CalMatters and other publications that the regulations “really herald a new era for water reuse in California. Communities across California will be able to benefit from this new, safe, resilient supply.”

The ReWater Center is launching the first issue of the Potable Water Reuse Report at the end of February 2024. The Potable Water Reuse Report is a bimonthly publication providing a deeper analysis of issues impacting the implementation of potable reuse including technical, regulatory, environmental, public acceptance, and research topics. The Report provides a connection between the water industry, regulators, and academia to reflect on the rapid development and evolution of potable reuse.

The popular San Francisco Bay Area call-in radio show Forum hosted a conversation on the state’s new Direct Potable Reuse regulations on Friday. The conversation featured Pacific Institute’s Heather Cooley, California Coastkeeper Alliance’s Sean Bothwell, and California State Water Resources Control Board’s Darrin Polhemus. The three experts explained the drivers for the new rules, and chronicled the long, rigorous process that brought them into existence. “I think of water efficiency and recycled water as ways to make our communities more resilient,” Cooley said, comparing the two as going hand-in-hand the same way as energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technology.

With aquifers nationwide in dangerous decline, one part of California has tried essentially taxing groundwater. New research shows it’s working.

WateReuse California has four standing committees:

Agricultural Reuse Committee, Communications Collaborative Group Committee, Legislative and Regulatory Committee, and Potable Reuse Permitting and Compliance Committee.

These committees are designed to allow member organizations a direct way to engage in their most related reuse field. Any individual belonging to a WRCA member is eligible to join. If you are interested in joining any of these committees, please complete the interest form:

WateReuse California's seven chapters provide a forum for regional networking and to discuss local water recycling issues and projects: 

State Water Resources Control Board - View Upcoming Events

For more information about WateReuse California, please contact: 

• Rosario Cortés, Interim Managing Director
  rcortes@watereuse.org