California isn’t recycling nearly enough water, according to a new report by UCLA researchers, who say the state should treat and reuse more wastewater to help address the Colorado River’s chronic shortages. Analyzing data for large sewage treatment plants in seven states that rely on Colorado River water, the researchers found California is recycling only 22% of its treated wastewater. That’s far behind the country’s driest two states: Nevada, which is recycling 85% of its wastewater, and Arizona, which is reusing 52%. The report, based on 2022 data, found other states in the Colorado River Basin are trailing, with New Mexico recycling 18%, Colorado 3.6%, Wyoming 3.3% and Utah less than 1%.

Other Colorado River news:

• UCLA: News release: As Colorado River shrinks, states fail to tap an accessible water source
• Aspen Journalism (Colo.): Dwindling water supply, legal questions push Colorado River into ‘wildly uncharted territory’
• Capital Press (Salem, Ore.): Onion association, Texas produce groups support Mexico water denial
• Lake County Record-Bee (Lakeport, Calif.): Opinion: Environmentalism requires sustainable immigration policies
• LabRoots: Blog: Colorado River’s role in Arizona’s groundwater recharge