According to a recent assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey, 30 million Americans live in areas where surface water supply struggles to meet demand. Additional research suggests that without intervention major metro areas such as Denver, Phoenix and Los Angeles are expected to face water shortages in the next decade. 

“Clean, safe water is essential to life, and municipalities require reliable, experienced partners to help deliver it,” says Ankur Talwar, district manager of PCL Construction’s Civil Infrastructure Division in the western United States. 

The situation is serious, but not insurmountable. Across the country, communities are tapping into the environmental principles of “reduce, reuse, recycle” — or, in the case of water infrastructure, “reclaim, reuse, recycle” — to build future-proof facilities that will provide safe drinking water for the next generation.  

Water reclamation is the process of treating municipal wastewater and water used in industrial processes so it can be safely reused for a variety of purposes. For example, reclaimed water used for irrigation or landscaping does not need to meet the same standards as drinking water and can often be treated to a lower threshold, conserving higher quality sources for essential uses. 

Water reclamation is especially critical in areas with limited access to freshwater such as Treasure Island, located in the San Francisco Bay. It is a 393-acre engineered island currently undergoing redevelopment to include restaurants, storefronts and up to 8,000 new homes. This redevelopment is expected to bring an increase of nearly 20,000 new residents by 2036, significantly increasing the demand for water.   

PCL Construction is building the Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility to meet the island’s growing wastewater treatment needs and create a more sustainable future for the island. 

This state-of-the-art facility will replace the current plant and feature advanced treatment technologies. About half of the treated wastewater will be reclaimed for use in irrigating lawns, landscaping and community parks.

The project also marks a first for San Francisco: It’s the city’s first nutrient removal project that will tackle environmental challenges. This process reduces biodegradable organic matter, suspended solids and nitrogen in the effluent discharged into San Francisco Bay, lowering the risk of harmful algal blooms, which has had adverse effects on marine life.

The focus on sustainable design and construction practices that reduce environmental impact and enhance community benefits has earned this project the prestigious Envision Platinum Award, making it one of only two wastewater treatment plants in California to achieve this level of recognition, setting a new standard for sustainable wastewater treatment.

“Envision is more than just a project milestone — it reflects our role as community builders who prioritize sustainability. It’s about making a lasting impact by reducing waste, protecting the environment and enhancing the communities we serve,” said Richard Hewitt, vice president and district manager for PCL’s Civil Infrastructure Division.

Water can be cleaned and reused indefinitely. For example, astronauts on the International Space Station have been drinking the same recycled water for nearly 25 years. 

On Earth, the primary hurdle isn’t technology, it’s public perception. Direct potable reuse (DPR) relies on advanced water treatment — a multi-step purification process that exceeds current drinking water standards — to clean and filter wastewater and return it directly back to the tap as purified drinking water.

Advanced water treatment includes several high-efficiency processes that work together to produce clean, safe water: 

Step 1: It starts with microfiltration or ultrafiltration to physically remove suspended solids, bacteria and some viruses. 

Step 2: This is followed by reverse osmosis (RO), a key step in which water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane to eliminate dissolved salts, organic compounds and most remaining pathogens. The RO process is crucial for significantly reducing contaminants that are not captured in earlier filtration stages.

Step 3: After reverse osmosis, the water undergoes an advanced ultraviolet/hydrogen peroxide oxidation process (UV/AOP) to break down trace organic chemicals and provide an additional barrier against microbial contaminants. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters are then used to remove any remaining chemicals, improve taste and eliminate odor. 

Step 4: The final step usually includes post-treatment conditioning, such as adding minerals to stabilize the water and prevent corrosion in distribution systems. 

These systems are being used with great success in other parts of the world. However, the Pure Water Center currently under construction in El Paso, Texas will be the first direct-to-distribution DPR facility in the U.S., marking a significant milestone in water reuse innovation. 

The Center will also be the first site in the U.S. to combine wastewater treatment, water treatment and true direct-to-distribution potable reuse facilities on the same site, serving as a model for other cities considering DPR. The Center will diversify El Paso’s water supply by offering a sustainable buffer during peak summer demand, reducing reliance on groundwater and limited surface water and safeguarding the region’s aquifer. 

Indirect-to-potable is a similar process, the primary difference being the treated water is returned to an environmental buffer like an aquifer or reservoir before being drawn again for treatment. Both approaches use advanced purification that removes a wide range of contaminants — including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine disruptors, nitrogen, phosphorus and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates 158 million Americans are at risk of PFAS-contaminated drinking water and in 2024 established legally enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for these chemicals. Public water systems have until 2031 to comply. 

For businesses and utilities, water recycling offers operational and environmental advantages. Industries with high water demands such as manufacturing, energy and agriculture can reduce costs and improve efficiency by reusing water within their operations. This also reduces the amount of wastewater discharged into the environment. 

 The City of Boise, Idaho is leading by example through its Recycled Water Program. This forward-looking initiative will recycle water through groundwater recharge and industrial reuse. In Boise, purified water will be safely returned to groundwater for future use or distributed directly to industrial users to offset the use of drinking water. 

Slated for completion in 2032 and constructed by PCL, the project includes a new recycled water facility to treat wastewater from industries in Southeast Boise. Once operational, it will add 6 million gallons per day to the city’s water renewal capacity. By purifying water for reuse, Boise is building a drought-resilient water supply to protect access to clean water for generations to come. 

As the demand for more sophisticated water and wastewater treatment grows and with stricter legislation in place, municipalities and private businesses will increasingly rely on expert contractors with experience in advanced water treatment and in delivering complex water and wastewater infrastructure to meet their needs today and into the future. 

“We’re at a turning point in how we manage our water resources,” Talwar said. “Modern water recycling technologies not only make it possible to safely reuse water, but they also give businesses and municipalities a smarter, more sustainable way to operate. Investing in advanced treatment systems helps communities conserve freshwater, reduce environmental impact and meet increasingly strict regulatory standards.”

With a robust civil infrastructure portfolio and proven success in delivering complex water and wastewater treatment facilities, PCL Construction is helping cities across North America adapt to a new water-scarce reality. From nutrient removal facilities to DPR innovation, PCL’s work reflects the highest standards in engineering, sustainability and public health protection.

As the need for water reuse becomes more urgent, PCL is uniquely positioned to lead the way — reclaiming, reusing and recycling water to secure a more resilient future.