A sewage plant and an unending drought

Let’s not forget the trillions of gallons of water that continue to flow out to sea because CA insists on wasting up to 50% of our water in an effort to save non-existent fish. Of the remaining amount, 40% is used for agricultural use and a measly 10% is used by residents. Now supposedly, our dictatorial governor wants residents to save 15%. So 15% of that 10% adds up to 1.5% of the total water available. Now wouldn’t it be easier to stop sending just 3% of the 50% of water flowing out to sea to achieve the same result? (Let’s see if anyone checks my math.) After all, these non-existent fish will not notice their missing 3%, or even 30% - because they’re non-existent. BTW, weren’t many major reservoirs filled near capacity and above historical averages just two short years ago? What happened to all that water? Sorry, but it’s time to wash my car, water my lawn, change the water in my fish pond, etc.

The majority of our potable water is used in agriculture, where their ancient methodology has over 40% of their water misted into the air. Where it evaporates to never hit the ground.

As for residential potable water usage, most of it is used in R1's with a lawn. High density units (AKA apartments, Condos, etc) use way less.

Low-hanging fruit for our potable water issues is to add to our existing sewage treatment plants. Where millions of gallons are sent to the bay/sea/etc.

One early career was in industrial controls (factory automation, process controls, robotics, etc) and one memorable factory process was the Sioux City sewage plant back in the 1970's. Where the final product outflow had a spigot and a table with stacks of clean, sparkling drinking glasses.

That plant was able to treat sewage to the level that was clean enough to drink...but no one would. Even our tech's who crawled all over that plant during the few years installing/tuning/etc the process.

"YUK" factor was their reason.

MILLIONS OF GALLONS PER **DAY**... is what the current San Mateo sewage plant releases into the bay and all of that could become potable water. Forget about grey water, that is also way cool, but has a distribution issue. Recycled sewage water (Potable) can be tapped into our existing potable water delivery system NOW and mix it with current water supplies to hopefully mitigate that 'yuk factor'...

Today, that IP is well known and actually being installed world wide and even here in California.

Check out these links :

Why we can get over the ‘yuck factor’ when it comes to recycled water

https://theconversation.com/why-we-can-get-over-the-yuck-factor-when-it-comes-to-recycled-water-65108

Treatment process turns wastewater into drinking water

https://youtu.be/ywhYu2FRJTk

Eco India: Treating sewage water to make it drinkable could hold the answer to Delhi’s water woes

https://youtu.be/zhkO_hchlpw

Is Drinking Recycled Sewage Water Really that Gross?

https://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/blog/drinking-water/is-drinking-recycled-sewage-water-really-that-gross

From Wastewater to Drinking Water

https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2011/04/04/from-wastewater-to-drinking-water/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/from-toilet-to-tap-what-cities-need-to-do-to-make-it-happen-11558105505

From Toilet to Tap: What Cities Need to Overcome to Make That Happen

https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2011/04/04/from-wastewater-to-drinking-water/