Skip to main content
To search for an exact phrase, use quotes around the full phrase.

Utility

  • Become a Subscriber
  • Log in

Main navigation

  • Research
      Column
      Projects
      Current Projects
      Completed Projects
      All Projects
      Programs
      Grants Awarded
      Column
      Topics
      All Topics A-Z...
      Advanced Treatment
      Asset Management
      Biosolids
      Climate Change
      Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs)
      Cyanobacteria & Cyanotoxins
      Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)
      Energy Optimization
      Column
      Integrated Planning & Water Management
      Intelligent Water Systems
      Lead & Copper
      Microbes & Pathogens
      Nutrients
      PFAS
      Resource Recovery
      Reuse
      Stormwater
      Utility Management
      Water Use & Efficiency
  • Resources
      Our Magazine
      Case Studies
      COVID-19 Resources
      Upstream Strategies
      Web Tools
      Videos
  • Proposals
      Column
      Apply
      Open RFPs
      Advance Notice
      Column
      Guidelines
      Contract Materials
      Policies
      Proposal Guidelines
      Project Report Guidelines
  • Innovation
      WRF TechLink
      Resources
  • Our Subscribers
      Benefits
      Become a Subscriber
      Get to Know Subscriber Services
      One Water Rate FAQs
  • About Us
      Column
      The Foundation
      Careers
      Our Team
      Board of Directors
      Research Committees
      News
      eNews
      Press Releases
      Column
      Get Involved
      Participate in Research
      Awards
      Subscriber Impact
      Research Innovation
      Paul L. Busch
  • Webcasts & Events
      Column
      Upcoming Event

      Methods for Detecting and Differentiating Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens (OPPPs) to Determine Efficacy of Control and Treatment Technologies

      Webcast
      04/04/2023
      Register for Webcast
      Column
      Events
      Webcasts
      Conferences & Events
Back to Topic List

Reuse

All communities need a supply of clean, safe water. Some communities, and the utilities that serve them, have the luxury of tapping into additional water sources when their primary supplies face quality or quantity issues. However, because traditional water sources, such as surface water and groundwater, are highly dependent on location, many utilities don’t have easy access to contingency supplies. As increased pressures from drought, extreme weather, and shifting populations make backup supplies more critical, many utilities are looking beyond traditional sources to diversify their supplies. Many communities are also grappling with political and institutional issues, like local control of water supplies, driving the need to identify new, local options to avoid the need to import water.

All of these circumstances make water reuse an attractive option. Potable reuse purifies water from wastewater treatment plants through advanced treatment methods to meet drinking water standards, while non-potable reuse recycles municipal wastewater and water from impaired sources for activities that don’t involve human consumption, such as landscape and crop irrigation, industrial processes, and other uses.

For more information, contact Lyndsey Bloxom.

Topic Overview (PDF)
Login to follow this topic
214 Projects 8 Web Tools 4 Case Studies 11 Webcasts
Reuse: Direct Potable
Reuse: Indirect Potable
Reuse: Nonpotable
Reuse: Potable
Project #5041

Demonstrating Virus Log Removal Credit for Wastewater Treatment and Reverse Osmosis for Potable Reuse at OCWD

$512,752
2022
Completed

Project Highlights

The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) maintain a joint indirect potable reuse project: the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). The GWRS Advanced Water Purification Facility treats secondary treated wastewater from OC San facilities...

View more details
Principal Investigator
Megan
Plumlee
Research Manager
Dr. Hyunyoung Jang

California State Water Board Grant

In 2018, The Water Research Foundation received a grant totaling $4.5M from the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to support non-potable and potable reuse research. This funding has been leveraged by WRF and other key partners, including Metropolitan Water District (CA), utilities in CA and across the US, engineering firms, and manufacturing companies to fund WRF reuse research launched in 2017 – 2019.
 

> Learn more about the California State Water Board Grant

Orange County Water Case Study

Traditional water sources like surface water and groundwater are highly dependent on location, and many utilities don’t have easy access to contingency supplies. As increased pressures from drought, extreme weather, and shifting populations make backup supplies more critical, many utilities are looking beyond traditional sources to diversify their supplies. Learn how Orange County Water District’s dedication to innovative water research has made them a pioneer in the world of water reuse.

Recent Updates

Project #5092
Understanding and Improving Reuse Biofilter Performance During...

Reporting Period: February 2022 - May 2022

Project Update
11/28/2022
Project #5092
Understanding and Improving Reuse Biofilter Performance during...

Reporting Period: April - November 2021. Operation of the granular activated carbon (GAC) pilot setup consisting...

Project Update
05/04/2022
Project #4979
Potable Reuse Demonstration Design & ...

Reporting Period: May 1, 2020 - June 1, 2021. During this period, the team completed four...

Project Update
02/18/2022
Project #4979
Potable Reuse Demonstration Design & ...

Reporting Period: June 2, 2021 – December 1, 2021. The project scope was updated and expanded...

Project Update
02/18/2022
Project #4953
Considerations and Blending Strategies for Drinking Water System...

Reporting Period: May 1, 2020 - July 31, 2020. This project kicked off in February 2020...

Project Update
10/02/2020
Project #4953
Considerations and Blending Strategies for Drinking Water System...

Reporting Period: November 1, 2021 – January 31, 2022. Cast iron distribution system pipes were tested...

Project Update
05/04/2022
Project #5049
Public Health Benefits and Challenges for Blending of Advanced...

Reporting Period: July 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021 This project will define benefits and challenges...

Project Update
05/20/2022
Project #4958
New Techniques, Tools, and Validation Protocols for Achieving Log Removal...

Reporting Period: April 2021 – October 2021. The project team has continued to meet on a...

Project Update
03/04/2022
Project #4958
New Techniques, Tools, and Validation Protocols for Achieving Log Removal...

Reporting Period: January – April 2021. The literature review is complete (including incorporation of Project Advisory...

Project Update
03/04/2022
Project #5049
Public Health Benefits and Challenges for Blending of Advanced...

Reporting Period: April 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021. An extensive literature review was conducted incorporating...

Project Update
12/22/2021

News

National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) Update

eLetter
04/13/2022

February marked the second anniversary of the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP). A cohort of over 100 partner organizations, including WRF, has made important progress towards incorporating water reuse...

The Water Research Foundation Publishes Research to Inform California’s Direct Potable Reuse Regulations

Press Release
10/20/2021

The Water Research Foundation announced the publication of research funded under a $1.4 Million Grant from the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWB) to advance protective practices for potable...

The Water Research Foundation Announces Release of RFPs for Four Research Projects

Press Release
09/13/2021

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has released Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for four projects funded through WRF’s Research Priority and Emerging Opportunities Programs. Proposals for the following projects are due...

View all Reuse News

Resources

Public Plus

Water Reuse: Understanding Public Perception and Participation

Executive Summary
10/01/2000
10/01/2000
Public Plus

Develop a Frame to Determine When to Use Indirect Potable Reuse Systems vs. Dual Pipe

Report
#9-02PDF
05/01/2010
05/01/2010
Public Plus

The Opportunities and Economics of Direct Potable Reuse

Report
#1710
09/16/2021
09/16/2021
View all Reuse Resources

Related Topics

Link

Reuse: Potable

Link

Reuse: Nonpotable

Link

Reuse: Direct Potable

Link

Reuse: Indirect Potable

Link

Reuse: Membrane Technology

Link

Reuse: Agricultural

Link

Water Supply Planning

Like reading about Reuse ?

Login to follow this topic
Subscribe to Newsletter

6666 W. Quincy Ave. Denver, CO 80235

1199 N. Fairfax St., Ste. 900 Alexandria, VA 22314

Social

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Footer menu

Column
Research
Biosolids
Climate Change
Energy Optimization
Integrated Water
Lead & Copper
PFAS
Resource Recovery
Utility Management
All Topics
Column
Projects
Current Projects
Completed Projects
All Projects
Programs
Grants Awarded
Proposals
Advance Notice
Open RFPs
Guidelines
Column
Resources
Our Magazine
Case Studies
Web Tools
Videos
Our Subscribers
Benefits
Become a Subscriber
Your Regional Liaison
Column
Events
Webcasts
Events
About Us
The Foundation
Careers
Our Team
Board of Directors
Contact Us

© 2023 The Water Research Foundation.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Footer - Legal

  • Copyright
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy/Security Notices
  • Non-Discrimination Policies
  • EULA
To search for an exact phrase, use quotes around the full phrase.

Main navigation

  • Research
      Column
      Projects
      Current Projects
      Completed Projects
      All Projects
      Programs
      Grants Awarded
      Column
      Topics
      All Topics A-Z...
      Advanced Treatment
      Asset Management
      Biosolids
      Climate Change
      Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs)
      Cyanobacteria & Cyanotoxins
      Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)
      Energy Optimization
      Column
      Integrated Planning & Water Management
      Intelligent Water Systems
      Lead & Copper
      Microbes & Pathogens
      Nutrients
      PFAS
      Resource Recovery
      Reuse
      Stormwater
      Utility Management
      Water Use & Efficiency
  • Resources
      Our Magazine
      Case Studies
      COVID-19 Resources
      Upstream Strategies
      Web Tools
      Videos
  • Proposals
      Column
      Apply
      Open RFPs
      Advance Notice
      Column
      Guidelines
      Contract Materials
      Policies
      Proposal Guidelines
      Project Report Guidelines
  • Innovation
      WRF TechLink
      Resources
  • Our Subscribers
      Benefits
      Become a Subscriber
      Get to Know Subscriber Services
      One Water Rate FAQs
  • About Us
      Column
      The Foundation
      Careers
      Our Team
      Board of Directors
      Research Committees
      News
      eNews
      Press Releases
      Column
      Get Involved
      Participate in Research
      Awards
      Subscriber Impact
      Research Innovation
      Paul L. Busch
  • Webcasts & Events
      Column
      Upcoming Event

      Methods for Detecting and Differentiating Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens (OPPPs) to Determine Efficacy of Control and Treatment Technologies

      Webcast
      04/04/2023
      Register for Webcast
      Column
      Events
      Webcasts
      Conferences & Events

Lift Main Navigation

  • Resources
      Column
      Intelligent Water Systems Challenge
      SEE IT

Utility

  • Become a Subscriber
  • Log in

Lift Utility

  • The Water Research Foundation