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California adopts direct potable reuse regulations

The State Water Board's December 2023 vote lets utilities put purified recycled water directly into drinking-water systems — a global regulatory landmark.

California's State Water Resources Control Board unanimously adopted direct potable reuse (DPR) regulations in December 2023, allowing utilities to introduce purified recycled water directly into drinking-water distribution systems under stringent multi-barrier treatment, monitoring and operator-certification requirements.

The rules — among the first comprehensive DPR frameworks worldwide — validate full advanced treatment trains (membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, UV advanced oxidation) and are already shaping reuse programs far beyond the United States, including in Singapore, Australia and the Gulf.

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