Overcoming “Yuck” in Recycling Wastewater Into Drinking Water
November 19, 2024
Los Angeles is set to build a new facility for recycling wastewater into drinking water. When completed in 2027, it will produce 20 million gallons per day, enough to supply about 250,000 people. Until now, technologists and policymakers often met public resistance to reusing wastewater for human consumption, due in part to what Christy Spackman calls the “yuck” factor. In Issues, she describes how advocates of wastewater recycling are working to move people from “yuck” to “yum,” where the final product is not only enjoyable but connects with positive social, cultural, and aesthetic experiences to create new memories.