California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2020-21
PLAN AND ASSESS: WASTEWATER RECYCLING
WASTEWATER RECYCLING-WATER RECLAMATION
MESSAGE:
In 2019, agriculture irrigation accounted for 21 percent of California's total recycled water use.
RECYCLED WATER BY TYPE OF USE
| KEY STATISTICS FOR 2021 | |
| Urban Recycled Water Use: | 263,680 |
| Agriculture Irrigation: | 142,942 |
| Indirect Potable Use: | 176,727 |
MEASUREMENTS
| Types of Recycled Water Use in California, 2019 | Category | Amount (Acre-Feet per Year) | Percentage of Total Recycled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture Irrigation | Agriculture Irrigation | 142,942 | 22% |
| Landscape Irrigation | Urban Uses | 115,723 | 18% |
| Groundwater Recharge | Indirect Potable Reuse | 136,075 | 21% |
| Seawater Intrusion Barrier | Indirect Potable Reuse | 40,652 | 6% |
| Industrial | Urban Uses | 100,732 | 15% |
| Golf Course Irrigation | Urban Uses | 44,662 | 7% |
| Other | Other | 85,246 | 13% |
| Geothermal Energy Production | Other | 17,716 | 3% |
| Commercial | Urban Uses | 2,563 | 0% |
| TOTAL | - | 686,311 | - |
WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING
Based on 2019 survey results, 58 percent of all recycled water is used for a combination agriculture (21 percent), landscape irrigation (17 percent), and groundwater recharge (20 percent, i.e., indirect potable use).
WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT
The Strategic Plan Update 2008-2012 for the Water Boards includes a priority to increase sustainable local water supplies available for meeting existing and future beneficial uses by 1,725,000 acre-feet per year, in excess of 2002 levels, by 2015, and ensure adequate water flows for fish and wildlife habitat. The Water Board's 2009 Recycled Water Policy (Policy) is intended to support the Strategic Plan priority to Promote Sustainable Local Water Supplies. Increasing the acceptance and promoting the use of recycled water is a means towards achieving sustainable local water supplies and can result in reduction in greenhouse gases, a significant driver of climate change. The Policy is also intended to encourage beneficial use of, rather than solely disposal of, recycled water. The mission of the Water Recycling Funding Program (WRFP) is to promote the beneficial use of treated municipal wastewater (water recycling) in order to augment fresh water supplies in California by providing technical and financial assistance to agencies and other stakeholders in support of water recycling projects and research.
TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Data Source: 2019 Municipal Wastewater Recycling Survey Results. For 2019 survey: Period January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.
- Unit of Measure: Amount of Water Recycled in Acre-Feet/year.
- References:
GLOSSARY
- Recycled Water
- Recycled water means water which, as a result of treatment of waste, is suitable for a direct beneficial use or a controlled use that would not otherwise occur and is therefore considered a valuable resource. (Water Code § 13050(n)).
- Acre-foot
- It is defined by the volume of one acre of surface area to a depth of one foot. Since the acre is defined as a chain by a furlong (66 ft × 660 ft) the acre-foot is exactly 43,560 cubic feet. One acre-foot is taken to be the planned water usage of a suburban family household, annually.
- Indirect Potable Reuse
- The planned incorporation of recycled water into a raw water supply such as in potable water storage reservoirs or a groundwater aquifer, resulting in mixing and assimilation, thus providing an environmental buffer.
