The city of Roseville, California has begun selling recycled water to construction crews for soil compacting and dust control.

Strict water restrictions in the state have caused a slowdown for building and construction.
The city began selling recycled water to construction companies at half the cost of regular water in an effort to reverse the slowdown.

"It's benefiting us on a level because were keeping construction going," said Todd Jordan, the Senior Engineer for Roseville’s Environmental Utilities Department. "(Things like) the new homes, stores and expansion of medical facilities.”

The city has used recycled water since 1998, but primarily for irrigation and street sweeping.

“Most of that (recycled water) use is within the western portion of the city, where our distribution center is,” said Jordan. “All of those customers that use it for those (purposes) are directly connected to the system … A lot of the schools and parks in that area are mandated to use it from the city’s code.”

“It’s not a drinking water source…this is not something you can hook the hose up to and drink it…you can’t fill a pool with it,” Jordan added.

The California State Water Board only recently granted approval for recycled water to be used in construction enterprises. The water board requires all parties using recycled water to be trained on how to properly do so: Runoff is not allowed to spill into storms systems and creeks. 

“The conditions of our permit are pretty specific, and as the drought goes on they relax a little bit; but, as it stands now, that water needs to stay in Roseville so we can keep control over what’s going on,” Plecker explained. “As far as residents using it, the program’s really not set up for that because of the training that’s required…we do anticipate and envision some kind of a commercial service…that’s probably something that’s a little more controllable. It hasn’t come up yet but we’re not opposed to it. This water is perfectly fine, but the state does require that we monitor its use.”