California's standards for recycled water are the benchmarks for the United States and worldwide, and they allow for full body contact, such as swimming or waterskiing, where accidental ingestion is assumed to occur. Recycled water used in recreational lakes undergoes secondary treatment, followed by filtration and high-level disinfection.

The production and use of recycled water is governed under Title 22 of the California Health Code and regulated by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the State Department of Health Services and the County Department of Environmental Health Services. Stringent regulation and the continual advancement of technology assure recycled water's safety.