Metropolitan Issues Statement on Adoption of New Regulations for Direct Potable Reuse

Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, issues the following statement on the State Water Resources Control Board adoption of regulations on direct potable reuse:

"We're grateful to the state board for taking this important step that advances water reuse to the next level while making public health and safety the top priority. These new regulations give water managers a critical new tool as we confront the challenges of climate change. They will enable Metropolitan to advance development of Pure Water Southern California, which will be one of the largest water recycling facilities in the world and benefit 19 million people in our service area. Importantly, these regulations will give us additional flexibility in how we manage our Pure Water facility. A portion of the purified water produced will be used for groundwater replenishment, while a portion will go through an additional DPR treatment process, then be delivered to one or two of our water treatment plants for further treatment and delivery across the region. This flexibility will allow us to ensure Southern California has a reliable water supply in dry years, while taking full advantage of water available in wet years.

"Not only will these new regulations help advance large-scale water recycling projects already in development, like Pure Water Southern California, they will enable water managers across the state to consider new projects that have not yet been contemplated. Water reuse will become an even more integral part of our state's supply reliability."

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 member agencies and retail suppliers, provide water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.