By unanimous vote, on Dec. 19, 2023, the California State Water Resources Control Board approved regulations that would allow water agencies to develop treatment procedures to convert wastewater into drinking water (“direct potable reuse”), as reported by many news outlets.
“These regulations ensure that the water produced is not only safe, but purer than many drinking water sources we now rely on,” said State Water Board chair Joaquin Esquivel. The regulations comply with California’s Safe Drinking Water Act.The proposal has been in review for over 10 years, undergoing expert panel analysis, scientific review, public input and the development of safety standards,
