In a significant move, California regulators have given the green light for water agencies to recycle wastewater and infuse it back into the pipes that carry drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses. The state, with over 39 million residents, has had challenges securing dependable sources of drinking water. It marks a change in public perception since similar projects were met with opposition as recently as 20 years ago.

California has encountered several extreme droughts, including the most recent one, a three-year drought that scientists say is the driest on record, leading to alarmingly low levels in reservoirs. The solution lies in treating sewage water, a precious resource that could alleviate California’s water shortage. “Water is so precious in California. It is important that we use it more than once,” says Jennifer West, managing director of WateReuse California, a group advocating for recycled water.

For decades, California has been recycling wastewater for purposes like irrigation, making snow, and making ice. Farmers in the Central Valley use it for agricultural purposes, where a majority of the vegetables, fruits, and nuts supplying the country come from. However, it is yet to be directly used as drinking purposes until the new rule.

Orange County runs a substantial water purifying system that recycles wastewater and refills underground aquifers. After it has mixed with groundwater for several months, the recycled water is used as drinking water again. The new rules indicate that California water agencies can recycle wastewater treated to higher standards and streamline the current processes for recycled water permitting.

The Californian experience in drought management could serve as an inspiration to various other states and nations suffering a similar fate. Ramping up investment in water reuse and treatment could provide solutions to the global water scarcity crisis. As climate change exacerbates existing water challenges worldwide, recycling wastewater could be a vital tool for increasing water security.