Recycled wastewater is safer to drink than most sources of drinking water

Question

Recycled wastewater is heavily treated to meet state and federal regulations, making it even safer to drink than other sources of drinking water.

Answer 1

The claim that recycled wastewater is cleaner and safer than other drinking water sources is supported by a study from Stanford University, which found that recycled water, particularly treated through reverse osmosis (RO), can be as clean as or even cleaner than conventional sources like groundwater. The study showed that recycled water treated through advanced methods like RO poses no greater health risks than groundwater and is less toxic than untreated surface water. This treatment process ensures that recycled water meets stringent safety standards, potentially making it a viable alternative source. However, concerns about disinfection residuals still require further research.

https://www.aquatechtrade.com/news/water-reuse/recycled-water-cleaner-than-groundwater

Comments

You’ve done a great job citing a reputable source like Stanford University to support the claim, and the explanation of reverse osmosis (RO) as a treatment process is clear. However, I noticed that the article you linked is from Aquatech, which has a vested interest in promoting water reuse technologies. While this doesn't invalidate the findings, it might be worth cross-referencing with studies from independent organizations or regulatory bodies like the EPA. Did you check if any long-term studies confirm the absence of health risks or evaluate public perception about disinfection byproducts?