A fundamental shift is underway in how water resources are perceived and managed, moving beyond simple disposal to embrace a truly circular economy. Ralph Exton of the Water Environment Federation says rethinking the wastewater cycle unlocks not just environmental benefits, but also significant economic opportunities. By extracting valuable resources like…
The water sector is in the middle of a major transition, as decades-old challenges collide with powerful new technologies, workforce shifts, and rising public expectations. In this episode, Ralph Exton, Executive Director of the Water Environment Federation, unpacks how a nearly century-old organization is working to steer global water strategy.…
California is putting numbers behind recycled water. State planners are targeting roughly 800,000 acre-feet of reuse annually by 2030, followed by a dramatic expansion — about one million additional acre-feet by 2040 — as more treatment and reuse projects are built statewide. The strategy turns water recycling from a niche…
Water reuse isn’t a futuristic idea — it’s already how rivers work. Across major waterways like the Mississippi, the Colorado, and California’s Bay-Delta system, communities routinely rely on water that has been used upstream, treated, and returned to the river before being withdrawn again downstream. Modern reuse projects make that…
Most people know Earth has more saltwater than freshwater — but how much more? On Water Street outside of the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., we asked visitors to guess. Answers ranged from 70% freshwater to 15%, 10%, and even 2%. The most common answer hovered around 20%, likely because…
Building new water supply in California now requires assembling funding as carefully as engineering. Water reuse projects often rely on layered financing — combining local rates, state programs, and federal support — because the infrastructure is expensive but increasingly necessary as climate pressure reduces reliability of imported sources. “It does…
California regulators have created a formal permitting pathway for utilities that want to produce drinking water directly from treated wastewater. The state’s new direct potable reuse rules function as an optional tool — giving agencies regulatory certainty after years of pilot projects, research partnerships, and case-by-case approvals. “When it came…
California is securing water supply with financing — not rainfall. In recent years, state funding has accelerated drinking water, wastewater, and recycling infrastructure across dozens of communities. The result is a growing volume of dependable local water produced through treatment and reuse rather than imported from shrinking sources. “$1.7 billion…
California’s water system was built for a wetter century—and now the state is racing to turn wastewater into a reliable part of its supply portfolio. In this episode, Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the California State Water Resources Control Board, breaks down where water reuse fits in California’s long-term strategy, and…
Building the infrastructure for a drought-proof future depends as much on human relationships as it does on concrete and steel. The Sacramento Area Sewer District has spent years cultivating deep-rooted trust with local landowners to ensure the Harvest Water project successfully delivers recycled water to the region's agricultural heart. This…
The era of the "yuck factor" is fading as California pivots toward a more sophisticated and necessary understanding of the water cycle. Modern treatment technology now allows utilities to reach levels of purity that were once unthinkable, transforming wastewater into a strategic asset for a state facing an increasingly volatile…
California’s largest agricultural water recycling project is set to breathe new life into the landscapes of southern Sacramento County by swapping groundwater pumping for a drought-proof supply. The Harvest Water initiative will deliver a massive 50,000 acre-feet of recycled water annually to more than 16,000 acres of working lands, creating…
Discharging treated water into the heart of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta carries a massive responsibility, as this watershed serves as a primary hub for the state’s water delivery network. To protect this vital resource, the Sacramento Area Sewer District operates one of the largest inland discharge points west of the…
Sacramento is proving that the scale of water infrastructure must match the scale of climate challenges by operating a resource recovery complex that spans the size of 18 football fields. This massive facility represents a leap into advanced water management, utilizing a biological nutrient removal process to strip away 99%…
In Sacramento, the shift to viewing wastewater as a critical resource is transforming regional water security and ecological health. In this episode, Christoph Dobson, General Manager of Sacramento Area Sewer District, explains how the landmark $1.7 billion EchoWater project has elevated treatment standards to tertiary levels, protecting the sensitive Bay…
Water utilities are already collecting the data they need—the challenge is putting it all in one place to drive smarter reinvestment. The modern utility operates across multiple data streams, from GIS and CCTV inspections to work orders and price books. However, without a way to synthesize this information, it’s difficult…
If your motto is Save the Bay, your headquarters better walk the talk. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s home in Annapolis stands as a global pioneer in green architecture, proving that the built environment can actively contribute to environmental health rather than detract from it. As the first office building in…
Technical expertise builds infrastructure, but it’s open dialogue that builds public trust. In an industry where the daily "grind" of operations often leaves little room for reflection, the opportunity to gather and exchange honest perspectives is vital. Building institutional trust requires more than just meeting benchmarks; it requires water professionals…
What does a water utility do? For this episode of Water Street Questions, we asked people outside the Reservoir Center to define the role of a water utility. The responses highlight a spectrum of public understanding, ranging from basic service expectations to a deeper grasp of the water cycle: 🏗️…
Can Innovation Save the Chesapeake’s Sinking Islands? Smith Island and Tangier Island are more than just landmarks; they are the front lines of the climate crisis in the Chesapeake Bay. As sea levels rise, these historic crabbing and fishing communities face an existential threat that jeopardizes both their cultural heritage…
The passing of the 2025 deadline for the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint has shifted the conversation from hitting a date to ensuring long-term accountability. While the missed target highlights the immense challenge of restoring the watershed, the Blueprint’s unique two-year milestones continue to serve as a critical regulatory engine.…
Oyster restoration has emerged as the defining success story for the Chesapeake Bay over the last decade. Since 2014, a collaborative effort between Maryland, Virginia, and federal agencies like NOAA has resulted in the restoration of 11 tributaries—surpassing an ambitious goal that many experts originally deemed unreachable. By reviving these…
The Chesapeake Bay is cleaner today than it was decades ago, but the journey to full restoration remains unfinished. Much of the progress achieved to date is the direct result of a sustained community effort and massive historical investments in wastewater treatment infrastructure While these successes have shifted the trajectory…
Is the Chesapeake Bay finally turning a corner, or is restoration falling behind on its most critical deadlines? This episode provides an expert "check-up" on America’s largest estuary with Hilary Falk, President and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). After decades of investment, the results are a complex mix…