The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2011-12

MEASUREMENTS 

Click on a bar in the charts below, to show details for that region (third chart below).

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

The data show that wastewater recycling efforts are concentrated in regions 4, 5 and 8 which accounted for 68% of California's total recycled water use for 2009. Survey results indicate that statewide recycled water use has more than tripled since 1970.

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) supports 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: 1970, 1977, 1987, 2001 and 2009 Municipal Wastewater Recycling Survey Results.  For 2009 survey: Period January 2009 to December 31, 2009. Reported to Sate Water Board on November 1, 2011.
• Unit of Measure: Amount of Water Recycled in Acre-Feet/year.
• References: The Water Boards’ Water Recycling programs
  1970, 1977 and 1987 Survey Results
  2009 Survey Results
  Public Reports and Data

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.

Water Recycling Targets

The Water Boards Water Recycling Policy identifies the goals and mandates to recycled water by 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2030.

( Page last updated:  9/14/12 )