Scottsdale drops direct water reuse plan after political criticism

Scottsdale, Arizona, abandoned plans to add highly purified wastewater directly to its drinking-water supply by 2027 after political criticism framed the proposal as unsafe “toilet to tap.” The city says its treatment process produces water that exceeds federal drinking-water standards, and less than 1% of its wastewater comes from toilets; the council instead shifted funding to a broad $100 million allocation for new water sources and supplies. The dispute has become an issue in a city council race, with one candidate backing reuse and two others raising safety and cost concerns. Water-reuse advocates warn the decision could undermine drought resilience as Colorado River supplies face cuts, and Scottsdale’s experience is seen as important to other Arizona communities considering similar facilities.