Rural americans willing to pay $49 monthly for recycled wastewater as water scarcity grows

As water supplies dwindle across the United States due to prolonged droughts and growing populations, an unexpected solution is gaining acceptance: drinking recycled wastewater. A recent survey reveals that residents in small communities of fewer than 10,000 people would pay an average of $49 per month for access to water reuse programs, signaling a shift in public attitudes toward this sustainable technology.

The process isn’t as daunting as it sounds. Using advanced reverse osmosis systems, wastewater is filtered through fine membranes and sterilized with UV light, producing water so pure that minerals must be added back to make it safe for consumption. Western states are already embracing this technology—Nevada reuses 85% of its water, while Arizona recycles 52%. The treated water is not only safe but often tastes better than traditional tap water.

However, the $49 monthly fee wouldn’t cover the full cost of building new treatment facilities, which require significant upfront investment and ongoing energy costs. Communities would likely need federal grants or municipal bonds to launch these projects. University of Rhode Island economist Todd Guilfoos, co-author of the study, notes that “it’s often just cheaper than some of the other available solutions” and typically gets built when communities face water crises.

The urgency is real. Rural areas are increasingly depleting underground aquifers, causing land subsidence—California’s San Joaquin Valley has sunk up to 28 feet in recent decades. As climate change brings more volatile weather patterns with severe droughts followed by intense flooding, recycled wastewater offers a reliable buffer against water shortages that threaten communities nationwide.