Blog: Reuse can affect water quality in unintended ways, study finds
As they seek to reduce their reliance on imported water supplies, the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and other local governments in the area are looking to increase the extent to which they engage in water reuse, a proven tactic for extending existing supplies in water-stressed regions. As a means of improving water quality, some local agencies also plan to divert dry weather urban runoff from storm sewers to best management practices, such as detention ponds, infiltration basins, or rain gardens, or treatment facilities. Significant increases in reuse and dry weather diversions would decrease the volume of treated effluent and untreated runoff entering the heavily managed LA River, raising questions about potential effects on water quantity and quality.