California is getting ready to adopt new rules that will allow sewage to be transformed into pure drinking water that will go directly to people’s taps. Once approved, suppliers will be able to start building advanced treatment plants for what’s known as “direct potable reuse.”
Heather Cooley, the director of research at the Pacific Institute, said sewage will undergo an extremely sophisticated treatment process, which scientific research shows makes it safe to drink.
The new regulations detail requirements for infrastructure, treatment technologies and monitoring. The State Water Resources Control Board is expected to approve of the rules on Tuesday. They’ll also need to be approved by the Office of Administrative Law, which is expected to happen next year.