Recycled Water

No.  The pipes for distributing Recycled Water and the pipes that distribute Domestic Potable Water are completely separate from one another.  This means that the domestic potable water in a home or the water in a drinking faucet are served by a completely different system than Recycled Water.

Recycled Water is delivered through a dedicated system of storage tanks, pumps, pressure regulating stations, meters, backflow preventers, and pipes called “mains” and “services”.  In this way, Recycled Water is delivered to customers in the same way that potable water is delivered.

The physical difference between a “potable” water system and a “non-potable” or “Recycled Water” system is the color/marking of piping, fixtures, and appurtenances.  Potable water systems do not have a specific color or marking for piping.  Potable water systems can range in color from black to blue or from natural metal/plastic colors to a variety of wraps.  On the other hand, Recycled Water has very specific color and marking requirements.  Recycled Water pipes, fixtures, sprinkler heads, valves, mains, services, and appurtenances, by regulation, must be purple in color and/or clearly marked “Recycled/Reclaimed Water, Do Not Drink”.  Marking must be on a purple background with black lettering.  The coloring/marking of Recycled Water helps to assure that Potable and Non-Potable/Recycled systems are not interconnected by accident.

Initial shut down pressure tests are conducted at every Recycled Water Use Area with annual follow up shut down tests, to confirm the physical separation (no cross-connection) of Potable and Non-Potable/Recycled Water systems.

Yes.  Recycled Water is treated to standards established by the California Department of Public Health (now the State Water Resources Control Board) and is frequently monitored by Local, State, and Federal regulatory agencies.  As a result, Recycled Water is safe for bodily contact and non-potable (not for drinking) activities, such as landscape irrigation, non-potable industrial use, and in some areas, for groundwater recharge.

Generally, Recycled Water refers to highly treated domestic Wastewater.  When we flush toilets, take showers, wash dishes or run dish washers, wastewater is created.  A large portion of this wastewater is made up of pure water.  Through advanced wastewater treatment activities, the pure water is separated from waste material, disinfected and made available for reuse in landscape irrigation, industrial non-potable, or in some areas, for the recharge of groundwater aquifers. , Other non-potable sources like storm water runoff and industrial waste could be treated for reuse in a similar way.

The University of California (USC) Manual of Cross-Connection Control 10^th ed. defines Potable Water as “Water from any source which has been investigated by the health agency having jurisdiction, and which has been approved for human consumption”. Non-Potable Water therefore, would include water from any source that has not been investigated and approved by the health agency having jurisdiction for human consumption.

“Recycle” defined: verb, convert (waste) into reusable material.

When you think of recycling, you probably think of aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic or paper products like newspaper and cardboard.  However, WATER can also be recycled and subsequently reused as a sustainable local source.

Recycled Water is highly treated wastewater that has undergone extensive filtration, disinfection and treatment processes to remove solids, impurities, and harmful pathogens.  Generally, Recycled Water refers to highly treated domestic Wastewater, but other sources like storm water runoff and industrial waste could be treated for reuse in a similar way.  The source water and treatment process determine the quality of Recycled Water.  When compared to domestic drinking water in any particular region, Recycled Water tends to have higher levels of Total Dissolved Salts (TDS) and higher levels of nutrients than the Domestic water used in the same area.  This limits the use of Recycled Water to landscape irrigation, industrial non-potable use and in some areas, for the recharge of groundwater aquifers.