On 21 February 2019 the Mayor of Los Angeles announced the city’s proposed plan to recycle 100% of its wastewater by 2035. In doing so, the city estimates US$8 billion of infrastructure investments will be required to upgrade the city’s existing Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, which is the largest wastewater facility in the western U.S.
Given the significant economic impacts of the recent California drought– and high capital costs of addressing water supply through long water transfers– Los Angeles’ strategy focuses more on local solutions. In this Research Note, Bluefield water experts analyze details of the Hyperion reuse project, Los Angeles’ strategy, and other cities’ potable reuse strategies.