Colorado River Report Exposes Gaps in Wastewater Recycling Across Basin States

A UCLA-led study finds only 26% of treated wastewater is reused, highlighting urgent need for federal and state investment to address water shortages.

A new report reveals that just 26% of treated municipal wastewater is being recycled across the Colorado River basin, with significant disparities between states.
Nevada leads wastewater recycling efforts at 85%, followed by Arizona at 52%, while California, despite its size, recycles only 22%.
Raising wastewater recycling rates to 40% could generate nearly 900,000 acre-feet of water annually, enough for almost 2 million households.
Researchers emphasize the need for federal standards, improved state-level monitoring, and substantial investment to expand recycling infrastructure.
Climate change, prolonged drought, and over-allocation have reduced the river’s flow by 20% since 2000, intensifying the water crisis for 40 million people reliant on its resources.