The coastal community of Morro Bay, like many other cities in California, is upgrading its sewage treatment plant. As elsewhere, these plant improvements are financed to a large extent with federal and state funds, and a string is attached: Consideration must be given to possible reuse of the treated wastewater or effluent. Morro Bay now disposes of its effluent into the ocean but has the possible alternative of beneficial reuse by piping it inland 1 to 5 miles for irrigation of field and forage crops, under conditions that meet Public Health Department regulations.

The authors are with U.C. Cooperative Extension.