The Difference Between Recycled/Reclaimed Water and Purified Water

Recycled or Reclaimed Water

Recycled or reclaimed water is treated wastewater that has been cleaned through multiple levels of treatment and can be used for landscaping, industrial and agricultural purposes. This water is treated to strict standards and rigorously monitored by local, state and federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to ensure it continuously meets all public health and safety standards. In Oceanside, recycled water is used to water golf courses, parks, agriculture and street landscaping. Learn more about Oceanside's recycled water projects.

Purified Water

Purified water, like the water created through Pure Water Oceanside, starts with recycled water and goes through additional treatment through proven advanced water purification processes to create clean and safe water to be used as drinking water. Recycled water from the San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility will be the source water for Pure Water Oceanside. Purified water is strictly regulated by the California Department of Drinking Water and the federal government’s EPA and is a proven, science-based process safely used in communities around the world. Experts in the medical and scientific community have concluded that purifying recycled water using these methods is healthy and safe. An annual Water Quality Report is made available to the public by the city providing information on the quality of our local drinking water and how it compares to state standards.