Aligning a Customer Outreach Program to Drive Recycled Water Regulatory Reform

摘要

The San Diego County Water Authority (the Water Authority) has primary water supply responsibility for San Diego County. The Water Authority, which is reliant on imported water, has a long-term water supply plan to utilize recycled water to offset 43,000 acre-feet of demands by 2020. In 2008, the Water Authority estimated that only 25,000 acre-feet of recycled water was beneficially reused. The Water Authority does not produce or sell recycled water, but because recycled water is vital to the region, it undertook a two year Recycled Water Marketing and Technical Assistance Program (the Program) to promote non-potable uses of recycled water. The Program is a unique example of a water supplier working to eliminate barriers to water reuse because of the regulatory perception that it is a waste. The Water Authority took the stance of promoting recycled water as a resource and advanced the discussion of “what is a waste” in California.