The Santa Clara Valley Water District estimates that by the year 2020, the South Bay could experience severe water shortages during a drought unless efforts are made to increase water supplies. In the South Bay, recycled water currently is used for non-drinking purposes, such as irrigation of parks, schools, golf courses, cemeteries, and business park landscaping. Recycled water is also being used for agricultural irrigation and by industrial customers in cooling towers and for paper processing. Since 1989, recycled water has been used for landscape irrigation at Lick Mill Park, Siemens corporate campus, Santa Clara Golf and Tennis Club and the San Francisco 49ers training facility. Since then, over 260 new sites, including Great America, Cisco and San Jose Municipal Golf Course have been added.
Recycled water is used in thousands of locations nation-wide.
In California alone, recycled water is used in more than 360 locations and has been used for over 20 years to irrigate agricultural crops, urban landscapes, golf courses, parks and schools. Furthermore, recycled water is used in Virginia and parts of Southern California to supplement drinking supplies.