California approves making wastewater drinkable

The more than 39 million residents of California will soon see wastewater transformed into drinkable water that flows through the pipes of household faucets, such as those in their kitchens or bathrooms, as well as in commercial or public properties like offices and schools.

The California State Water Resources Control Board approved a measure Tuesday to regulate the treatment of water that is discharged from toilets and that ends up in the ocean or in rivers, with the aim that it can be used for drinking or to clean everyday objects such as glasses and silverware.

This process, called "direct potable reuse," will allow "water systems to generate climate-resilient water sources & reduce wastewater discharged to rivers/ocean," as the California State Water Board detailed on X (formerly Twitter).

In addition, the California State Water Resources Control Board assured that the waste will be transformed into "high-quality drinking water," meaning it would not cause any harmful effects on citizens.

"CA just approved the most advanced standards in the nation, enabling the use of innovative tech to make wastewater clean & safe to drink. 'Direct potable reuse' is the future of water & essential to our plan to boost resilience & secure our water supply," wrote California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Yana Garcia.

The drought suffered by the state is the main reason that has led the Californian authorities to make this decision. The technology used to transform wastewater into drinking water will be similar to that used for desalination.