National Water Quality Month is observed each August to call attention to the importance of clean water to public health, agriculture, communities, and the environment. This yearly event asks us to consider how we protect the water resources communities depend on. In many regions, that conversation includes another question: How can communities safely reuse the water they already have?
As a capstone to National Water Quality Month, PMA was proud to participate in the 2026 WateReuse California Annual Conference, which brought a strong representation of water reuse professionals to San Francisco on August 24–26.
PMA’s Sara Abolhassani, Rachel Link, and Angel Ripepi attended several sessions that explored both the technical and public-facing challenges shaping the future of water reuse in California. Topics ranged from defining roles and responsibilities in partnerships for the PureWater Peninsula program to the growing need for high-recovery reverse osmosis in water reuse projects.
Building Public Trust
Other sessions focused on the human side of water reuse, including strategies for building public trust in purified recycled water and the use of bottling and tasting programs to demonstrate water quality and increase acceptance of direct potable reuse. Together, the sessions highlighted a recurring theme: advancing water reuse requires not only innovative treatment technologies, but also strong partnerships, clear communication, and public confidence in the safety and quality of recycled water.
Connecting with Water Quality Innovators
Beyond the technical side, the conference was a welcome opportunity to make new connections and renew longstanding professional relationships across California’s water community. Our PMA team connected with John Mahoney and JD Brosnan of Tanner Pacific; Claudia Llerandi of Kennedy Jenks; Daniel Lopez of Black & Veatch; Sarp Ersoylu of Mott MacDonald; Jofil Borja of the Sacramento Area Sewer District; Kim Hackett of Silicon Valley Clean Water; Hossein Ashktorab and Nasi Basiri of Valley Water; and Brenley Smith of WateReuse California. They also had opportunities to network with various contacts from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and members of Valley Water’s outreach team, strengthening relationships with agencies and professionals working to advance water reuse throughout the state.
Upcoming Projects
In view of California’s significant long-term water-supply challenges, tens of billions of dollars in recycled and purified water infrastructure projects are advancing throughout the state.
In Northern California, Valley Water (in partnership with the Cities of San Jose and Santa Clara) is moving forward with Pure Water Silicon Valley, while Pure Water Soquel is coming online near Santa Cruz and other potable reuse projects are planned in the Bay Area.
Along the Central Coast, Pure Water Monterey is already providing a new source of water for the region, with additional projects planned in communities including Pismo Beach and Carpinteria.
Southern California is seeing investment on an even larger scale, including the $21-26 billion Pure Water Los Angeles program, Pure Water Southern California (planned as one of the largest water recycling projects in the world) and Pure Water San Diego, which is expected to eventually provide nearly half of the city’s water supply.
PMA Expertise
PMA’s work on water reuse infrastructure reflects many of the priorities highlighted at the conference. For Monterey One Water, PMA provided project controls services on series of projects advancing the region’s purified water program, including expansion of the Advanced Water Purification Facility, new deep injection wells, and pump station upgrades. Together, these projects expanded treatment and delivery infrastructure supporting a reliable, sustainable regional water supply. The projects are just one example of PMA’s firsthand experience with the challenges overcome in bringing advanced water purification and reuse projects from construction through operation.
Water Quality for the Next Generation
As National Water Quality Month ends, the conversations at WateReuse California point toward a future in which protecting water quality and expanding water supplies increasingly go hand in hand. While California continues to invest in purified and recycled water, PMA expertise can help agencies turn ambitious water reuse plans into reliable infrastructure that serves communities for generations.