
A rooftop wetland on the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco filters wastewater from sinks and showers for reuse. JEREMY GRAHAM / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Our thanks to Jim Robbins, as ever, for environmental news from the front lines and for demonstrating that for all its urban challenges San Francisco remains a pioneering city:
Beyond the Yuck Factor: Cities Turn to ‘Extreme’ Water Recycling
San Francisco is at the forefront of a movement to recycle wastewater from commercial buildings, homes, and neighborhoods and use it for toilets and landscaping. This decentralized approach, proponents say, will drive down demand in an era of increasing water scarcity.
Ryan Pulley of Epic Cleantec holds a beaker of graywater. Right: A beaker of potable treated graywater. TED WOOD
In downtown San Francisco, in a cavernous garage that was once a Honda dealership, a gleaming white-and-blue appliance about the size of a commercial refrigerator is being prepared for transport to a hotel in Los Angeles. Continue reading