Recycled water is water that is treated above effluent – the standard required for discharge – but not quite to drinking water standards. This resource has lots of viable uses throughout California.

You can easily identify projects that make use of recycled water by the presence of purple pipe, the conveyance mechanism of recycled water specifically.

The California State Water Resources Control Board governs the permitting of recycled water projects and develops uniform water recycling criteria. State discharge standards for recycled water and its reuse are regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board’s 2019 Water Recycling Policy.

As part of its long term planning, the state of California aims to increase the production and use of recycled water across the nearly 700 wastewater treatment facilities in the state.

Title 22 of California’s Code of Regulations refers to state guidelines for how treated and recycled water is discharged and used. From a statewide permitting perspective, there are different kinds of recycled water that can only be used for specific uses.

 

 

Recycled Water Uses:

For the simplicity of this article we have organized recycled water’s various uses into broad, general headings. There are also several other uses for recycled water not listed here. Read below for several examples of how Californians are currently using recycled water.

Residential Landscaping

Customers can come to Central San and pick up as much recycled water as their vehicle can legally carry – all free of charge. Some customers make several trips a day during the summer to keep their lawns and gardens healthy using our recycled water.

 

 

 

 

Parks, Playgrounds, and Golf Courses

Several local parks and golf courses are irrigated using recycled water. Be on the lookout for purple pipe infrastructure the next time you are out at your local park

 

 

 

 

 

School Yards and Grounds 

Many local schools make use of our recycled water for their yards and grounds. Those include DVC and many schools within the Mount Diablo Unified School District.

 

 

 

 

 

Freeway and Municipal Landscaping

Much of the greenery you can find along local roadways and freeway medians is courtesy of recycled water irrigation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dust Control & Soil Compaction

Construction companies will use recycled water to spray down their piles, preventing excess dust and loss of soil.

 

 

 

 

 

Decorative Fountains

Many public buildings and local malls make use of recycled water for decorative purposes, including fountains and other forms of ornamental water.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleaning Service Vehicles & Outdoor Work Areas

Cities, as well as other agencies, will use recycled water to clean their vehicles, work areas, and local roadways.