Reclaimed water or
recycled water, is former
wastewater (sewage) that is treated to remove solids and impurities, and used in
sustainable landscaping irrigation, to recharge
groundwater aquifers, to meet commercial and industrial water needs, and for drinking. The purpose of these processes is
water conservation and
sustainability, rather than discharging the treated water to surface waters such as rivers and oceans. In some cases, recycled water can be used for streamflow augmentation to benefit ecosystems and improve aesthetics. One example of this is along Calera Creek in the City of Pacifica, CA.