Toilet to Tap in California: Would You Like to Drink Reclaimed Water?
by Dr. Jonathan Doyle - Updated December 28, 2023
The process of recovering water from various sources, treating it, and then
utilizing it once more for beneficial purposes such as industrial operations, irrigation and agriculture,
groundwater replenishment, and restoration of the environment is known as water reuse , sometimes known
as reclamation or water recycling.
California has such precious water. It is essential that each of us utilize it
multiple times. For many years, California has been using recycled wastewater. But would you like to sip on
recycled toilet water? Toilet-to-tap water is permitted for human consumption in
California .
The new regulations in California would allow water agencies to treat wastewater
and then add it to the drinking water system. After Colorado , California would be the only other
state to permit this.
Toilet-to-tap: What Does It Mean?
Recycled toilet water is already in your drink if you live in a city like Anaheim,
California. Although most people find the idea of drinking treated sewage water repulsive, it’s becoming a
common way to meet the country’s rising water needs.
Even though the average person uses between 70 and 90 gallons of water daily, the United States Geological Survey estimates
that more than 27 percent of that water is wasted in the toilet. Sewage water is recycled so that it is not
wasted. This innovative, novel approach is extremely sustainable and contributes to the protection of our most
valuable resource.
What Is the Process for Treating Sewage Water?
Sewage water treatment plants follow strict guidelines to ensure that the water
they produce is of the highest caliber.
To guarantee that the sewage water is fit for the ocean, the water must first go
through the standard water treatment procedure. Wastewater treatment plants, in contrast to conventional water
treatment facilities, keep treating the water before discharging it into the ocean.
They employ micro-filters to extract solid waste from the water. After that, they
employ reverse osmosis to filter out the tiny bacteria, viruses, and pesticides that the micro-filter was unable
to capture.
After that, an ultraviolet light is used to zap the water to sanitize it. Pumping
the water back into the closest aquifer is the last step in replenishing the beneficial minerals found in
naturally occurring water. As a result, the water tastes better and has less acidity from the reverse osmosis
process. After treatment, the water is safe, clean, and suitable for drinking.
Is It Safe to Drink Your Tap Water?
Typically sourced from municipal water supplies, tap water undergoes safety
standards-based treatment. This is a great option because it’s easy to use and compatible with most taps in the
house. However, its taste and quality may vary depending on the region.
The safety of tap water has drawn attention recently. In response to reports of
contaminants in some water supplies, public awareness has grown. As a result, people are becoming more
interested in water filtration systems
and alternative water sources.
To check the quality of your tap water in the US, click here
.
What Is Potable Water?
Drinking water, or potable water, is obtained from both surface and subsurface
sources and treated to levels that satisfy federal and state regulations for use.
Natural water sources undergo treatment to remove harmful chemicals, bacteria,
viruses, microorganisms, and excrement. Raw, unclean water can cause vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and other
gastrointestinal disorders.
The United States EPA
establishes maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a number of contaminants in the National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations. Waterdrop has cooperated with the EWG Tap Water Database to provide you with comprehensive
data on your tap water quality, click the following button to see what’s in your water.
What Is the Source of California’s Water?
It is accurate to say that California is the world’s most hydrologically altered
landmass. The state is quite different from what it was a decade ago. Reservoirs now hold water to transport it
to the arid land where grasslands and deserts once dominated. Landfill has replaced marshy areas in favor of
urban development.
Water demand in California is 80% concentrated in two-thirds of the state in the
south, while approximately 75% of the water supply of the state comes from sources north of Sacramento. About
half of California’s total streamflow and 40% of its yearly precipitation fall in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River
Delta.
At the moment, California uses a large amount of its recycled water for purposes
other than drinking, like landscape, golf course, and agricultural irrigation. Additionally, it refills
underground reservoirs that provide drinkable water. Southern California has been replenishing its underground
water resources using recycled wastewater since the 1960s.
However, the
State Water Resources Control Board of California recently decided to permit water companies to pump
treated wastewater into people’s taps in the densely populated, drought-prone state, according to the Washington
Post. The board declared in a statement that California will now have “the most advanced standards in the nation
for treating wastewater to such an extent that the finished product meets or exceeds current drinking water
standards” because of the decision.
Is California Water Safe?
California has recognized the right to safe, affordable, and clean drinking water
as a human right since 2012. Federal regulations mandate routine testing of community water systems for
contaminants that pose a health risk to humans.
U.S. Geological Survey research indicates that tap water in urban areas in Southern
and Central California is among the most exposed U.S. regions to pervasive flame-causing compounds, or “forever
chemicals.” One or more PFAS are present in half of US tap water supplies, and the study indicated that elevated
exposure to these compounds is associated with health problems such as cancer and infertility. In a state where
over a million people already lack access to clean water, particularly in underprivileged and low-income areas,
it is causing concerns about the quality of the water.
Click to learn more about PFAS Exposed: Protect Your
Family from Forever Chemicals .
Furthermore, drinking water that may have elevated levels of arsenic, nitrate, or
hexavalent chromium is a source of concern for about 370,000 Californians, as these substances can be extremely
harmful to humans if ingested.
Water Levels in California Reservoirs
Many of the world’s largest dams, which provide vital functions like flood control,
hydropower production, and water storage, are in the USA. Among them, the highest dam in the US is the Oroville Dam in northern
California.
According to the state’s top water managers, California’s water storage and
delivery systems are in good condition going into the rainy season because of last year’s almost historic
amounts of precipitation and snowfall.
According to data from the California Department of Water Resources, last year was
the sixth wettest on record after three years of punishing drought conditions. In April, the Sierra Nevada
snowpack stood at over 200% of its historic average, which has only happened four times since 1950.
An interactive map showing the water levels in California’s twelve largest
reservoirs is available from the Department of Water
Resources in California . There is a historical average, total reservoir capacity, and the current water
level for each reservoir.
Why Is California Banning Berkey Water Filters?
Regulations that California has put in place immediately impact the selling of
indoor water systems. According to these regulations, any water treatment system sold in the state must have a
certification from a neutral third-party testing body, such as NSF. As of right now, Berkey water filters are
not NSF/ANSI certified. Their lack of
certification raises questions about whether they are adhering to California’s regulations.
To ensure that water filters effectively reduce contaminants related to health and
appearance, NSF/ANSI certification is essential for compliance with California regulations. To reduce the levels
of toxins such as lead, chlorine, taste, and odor Giardia (a microorganism), Cryptosporidium (another form of
microorganism) volatile organic compounds VOCs or MTBE (found in gasoline). California also requires several
certifications. Among them are NSF Standard 42 for aesthetics and Standard 53 for health effects.
Furthermore, California has implemented strict regulations to guarantee the use of
lead-free products, prohibiting their sale in the community. In addition, California requires all products
labeled "lead-free," including water filters, to receive certification from an accredited laboratory, such as
NSF or an independent ANSI-accredited organization, attesting to the fact that the lead content does not exceed
0.25%.
Because Berkey refused to allow an independent, ANSI-accredited organization to
test their filters, their product is illegal to sell or use in California. Because of the filtration system they
use, Berkey filters are not NSF/ANSI certified. Although Berkey filters go through a rigorous independent
testing process, they have decided against pursuing NSF/ANSI certification.
Contaminants Detected in Fruitland Water
Special
Service District
30
Contaminants
EXCEED EWG HEALTH GUIDELINES
EXCEED EWG HEALTH GUIDELINES
30 Total Contaminants in Your Water
Water Provider
Fruitland Water Special Service DistrictPopulation Affected
120,000Water Source
Ground waterExceeds Guidelines
Others Detected