WateReuse California Review - March 2025 Wrap Up

In January 2025, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) opened the 2024 Volumetric Annual Report module for data submittal.  The reporting deadline of April 30 is around the corner.  If you have yet to report, the module can be accessed through the GeoTracker Electronic Submittal of Information (ESI) Portal.  

The 2024 Volumetric Annual Report (VAR) is the same format as the previous year and requires the entry of volumes in acre-feet per month for influent, effluent and if applicable, recycled water use.  This data is collected and analyzed as part of the Water Quality Control Policy for Recycled Water (Recycled Water Policy) volumetric annual reporting requirements. 

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The State Board and the Regional Boards recognize the importance of recycled water as a critical water supply for California and an important resource for diversifying local supplies and improving water resilience.  The State Board evaluates the feasibility of the current recycled water goals and tracks progress towards those goals through the data generated by the VAR.  Nearly 98% of wastewater treatment plants and recycled water producers statewide completed the VAR in 2024. 

If you have any questions, you can access the official Help Guide.   Webinar training for submitting the VAR is also available as well as data, infographics, and interactive map for 2019-2023 data sets can be found on the Volumetric Reporting Webpage.

For more information, please email Rosario Cortés, WateReuse California Manager of Regulatory Affairs.

On Friday, March 21, 2025, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the long anticipated Onsite Treatment and Reuse of Nonpotable Water Regulations.  The State Board has scheduled a Board Hearing on Thursday, May 8.  The California Administrative Procedure Act (APA) establishes rulemaking procedures and standards for state agencies in California; now that the rulemaking has begun there will first be a minimum 45-day comment period, but the entire process takes a year. 

WateReuse California is reviewing and analyzing the Text of the Proposed Regulation and welcomes your feedback by Friday, April 18. 

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California Water Code section 13558 requires the State Board to adopt regulations for risk-based water quality standards for the onsite treatment and reuse of nonpotable water for nonpotable end uses in multifamily residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings.  

As signed into law, Senate Bill 966 (Weiner, 2018) requires that local jurisdictions that wish to establish an onsite reuse program first adopt a local program through a local ordinance.  SB 966 also requires local jurisdictions that do not provide water or sewer services to consult with agencies that provide water and sewer services within the jurisdiction boundaries prior to adopting a program to ensure there are no adverse impacts to the sewer collection system, planned recycled water projects, or receiving waters.  The onsite reuse local program adoption and consultation requirements from the original bill remain key as we continue to see a significant reduction in wastewater flows statewide.  WateReuse California will remain engaged on this issue to advocate for effective standards that promote onsite reuse where appropriate and protect municipal wastewater and recycled water operations.

The State Board has already provided a Frequently Asked Questions document that was originally made available in 2022 but remains a great resource.

For more information, please email Rosario Cortés, WateReuse California Manager of Regulatory Affairs.

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) discussed the Draft State Water Board 2025 Strategic Workplan (Workplan) on March 3, 2025.  The Workplan is a plan the State Board has been developing annually since 2000 to guide the allocation of staff resources on issues of utmost importance. 

WateReuse California testified in support of the Workplan specifically agreeing on the importance of investing in water recycling to ensure the State’s water supply reliability and climate goals.  We offered our continued assistance as partners to work on resolving permitting and funding obstacles for planned recycled water projects.  We also reiterated our support of the development and implementation of a statewide Constituent of Emerging Concern program to prioritize and manage them.

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At the State Board meeting, the discussion on the yearly Strategic Workplan and Board Priorities was robust.  Chief Deputy Karen Mogus raised the topic of infrastructure funding in her comments and said that they “have a lot of work to do to develop guidelines for distributing the Prop 4 funds.”  WateReuse California appreciated their commitment to getting funding, specifically Proposition 4 funding, out the door and the established and efficient Water Recycling Funding Program; it has a well-understood solicitation process and program guidelines.  She also spoke on developing water supplies and that they will continue to work toward the goals that were set forth in the Governor's 2022 Water Supply Strategy and including “increase water recycling.” 

Chair Esquivel and several board members expressed appreciation for the stakeholder engagement we and others contributed. 

For more information, please email Rosario Cortés, WateReuse California Manager of Regulatory Affairs.

WateReuse California has four standing committees:

• Agricultural Reuse Committee
• Communications Collaborative Group Committee
• Legislative and Regulatory Committee
• 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. 

Central Valley/Sierra Foothills Chapter Meeting

• May 15, Location: TBD

Los Angeles Chapter Meeting

• April 8, Location: Long Beach Utilities Department

Central Coast Chapter Meeting

• April 24, Location: Microsoft Teams, or the City of Camarillo Desalter Facility

Orange County Chapter Meetings

• April 20, Location: Orange County Sanitation District

San Diego Chapter Meeting

• March 5, Location: City of Escondido 

Inland Empire Chapter Meeting

• April 8, Location: Sterling Natural Resource Center

For more information about WateReuse California, please contact: 

• Brian Ray, Administrative Coordinator
  bray@watereuse.org