California Adds 2.9 Billion Gallons of Drinking Water Through New Infrastructure Projects

California has added an estimated 2.9 billion gallons of drinking water to its annual supply following the completion or groundbreaking of eight state-funded water infrastructure projects this fall, according to state officials. The projects — located in communities from Orange County to the Bay Area and the Sierra — include wastewater treatment upgrades, recycled water systems and new desalination facilities.

State data shows the work is supported by about $590 million in grants and low-interest loans, much of it from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. The investments are part of a broader effort to expand local water supplies and modernize aging systems as the state faces more volatile weather patterns. More than 1 million Californians are expected to benefit from the latest round of projects.