Discharge avoidance and potable reuse: Shaping water management in the western U.S.

In this interview, John Rehring, Vice President and Senior Project Manager at Carollo Engineers, discusses how discharge avoidance is shaping potable reuse projects in the western U.S. Rehring explains that increasingly stringent wastewater discharge permits — covering temperature, salinity, and nutrients — are pushing utilities toward alternatives that reduce or eliminate discharges. Potable reuse offers a cost-effective path, especially as regulations for direct potable reuse (DPR) take hold in states like Colorado, California, Florida, and Arizona. He emphasizes transparent community engagement, demonstration projects, and regulatory clarity as critical factors in advancing reuse solutions to meet both compliance and water supply challenges.

Timestamps

• 00:33 – What discharge avoidance means and why it matters

• 01:23 – Regulatory drivers pushing costly treatment upgrades

• 03:02 – New challenges: temperature, salinity, and nutrient limits

• 04:22 – How DPR regulations accelerate adoption

• 06:13 – Importance of community trust and regulatory oversight

• 07:48 – Colorado Springs demonstration project example

• 09:33 – Lessons learned from DPR demonstrations

• 10:53 – Five benefits of demonstration facilities

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