California drought continues, residents take reclaimed water

A resident refills a water reclamation station at the Ironhouse Sanitation District in Oakley, California, May 20, 2021.

On May 10, California Governor Gavin Newsom extended the drought emergency declaration to all 41 counties in the state. California is still in a widespread drought, and some people are using reclaimed (recycled) water for emergencies.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 84 percent of the western United States is currently in drought, 47 percent of which is considered “severe” or “extreme. In California, a whopping 73 percent fall into these categories.

The Ironhouse Sanitation District in Oakley, California, a wastewater treatment station, has opened two reclaimed water refilling stations for residential and commercial use since June 2015.

The Ironhouse Sanitation District’s reclaimed water can be used for gardening, lawn irrigation, car washing and cleaning outdoor appliances; it is not suitable for cooking, drinking, bathing, swimming pools or spas.

On the 20th, many people went to the Iron House Sanitation District to get recycled water. People’s vehicles were carrying many water storage buckets and containers, and they took water in order.

Currently, the Iron House Sanitation District’s residential recycled water is available for free to residents of Oakley and Bethel Island, while residents of other areas have to pay for it.

A resident waits for a refill at the Ironhouse Sanitation District’s recycled water station in Oakley, California, U.S., May 20, 2021.

A resident waits for water to be filled at the Ironhouse Sanitation District’s recycled water station as he tests the water line to see if it is working properly in Oakley, California, May 20, 2021.

A resident tests the pump to make sure it is working properly as he waits to fill up at the Ironhouse Sanitation District water reclamation station in Oakley, Calif. on May 20, 2021.

A resident fills up a water reclamation station at the Ironhouse Sanitation District in Oakley, California, May 20, 2021.

A resident fills up water at the Ironhouse Sanitation District’s reclaimed water station in Oakley, California, U.S., May 20, 2021.

A resident fills up water at the Ironhouse Sanitation District’s water reclamation station in Oakley, California, U.S., May 20, 2021.

A resident fills up water at the Ironhouse Sanitation District’s water reclamation station in Oakley, California, U.S., May 20, 2021.

A resident fills up water at the Ironhouse Sanitation District’s water reclamation station in Oakley, California, U.S., May 20, 2021.

A resident fills up water at the Ironhouse Sanitation District’s water reclamation station in Oakley, California, U.S., May 20, 2021.

A resident fills up water at the Ironhouse Sanitation District’s water reclamation station in Oakley, California, U.S., May 20, 2021.

A resident fills up at the Ironhouse Sanitation District water reclamation station in Oakley, California, May 20, 2021.