Recycled water heading for Highway 168

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Drive along any major highway in the state and because of the drought you are likely to see lots of drying trees and shrubs. Along Highway 168 in Clovis you are also likely to see a lot of blue signs, noting, recycled water is being used.

Clovis resident Steve Keswick has seen the signs. "I've noticed coming down the freeway they are using recycled water which is a plus, but it doesn't look like they are using enough, or maybe they are not getting any."

The correct answer is they are not getting any of that recycled water just yet. Connections are still being made to the city of Clovis Water Reuse system.

Once completed it's expected to mean Clovis will be sending 17 million gallons of treated water each year through its purple pipes to this three mile section of highway. Helping Caltrans meet its goal and Saving Clovis that much drinking, or potable water. Lisa Koehn, the Assistant Public Utilities Director for the city of Clovis says it will help the city's water supply, because the recycled water will take the place of the drinking water they were providing Cal Trans.

"It also helps us because a fairly good sized customer off of the potable system, and puts them on the recyclable water system which is better utilization and allow our consumption figures to go down for the potable water," explained Koehn.

Now that water will cost Cal Trans less money, but under the Governors orders, they can still only use half as much as they were using before the drought, so the landscaping might not get much better. Public Information Chief Tami Conrado says Cal Trans is doing what it can under the Governor's orders to cut water use in half.

Conrado explained, "During this time of drought we are trying to maintain landscape wherever we can but with a 50 per cent reduction some of our landscaping may take a hit, unfortunately we are doing all we can to maintain it and for future projects we may look at more drought tolerant, more resilient, and hardscape in some cases."

That could mean more concrete and less plants along California's highways.