i became interested in potable water reuse when i heard a speaker at my former school, marymount california university, discuss the benefits of beach cities in california utilizing potable reuse — recycled water people can drink — to both conserve and generate clean water on the west coast.

one benefit of such a system is that it’s sustainable, as it utilizes metrics like ph levels and purifying systems to essentially recycle water. 

the water produced through a potable water reuse treatment process is commonly referred to as purified water. wastewater travels through sewers and pipelines to community wastewater treatment plants to create reusable water.

the challenge? potable reuse systems are only implemented in cities where there is a need, since it can be rather complex to build infrastructure to support it.

i talked to erica brown, chief strategy and information officer from the association of metropolitan water agencies, in the audio recording above, and patricia sinicropi, executive director at the watereuse association, in my video below, to learn more about the issue.