Direct potable reuse is moving from concept to reality, and utilities are navigating that transition in real time. At WEFTEC 2026, WaterWorld Editor-in-Chief Mandy Crispin speaks with Angel Villarruel-Moore, engineer at Carollo Engineers, about operating a direct potable reuse (DPR) pilot project in Florida while state regulations were still being developed. Villarruel-Moore discusses adapting to evolving requirements, building flexibility into pilot testing, collaborating closely with regulators, and using pilot data to help shape Florida’s final DPR framework. He also shares lessons learned for utilities pursuing DPR projects in states with emerging regulations and offers advice for planning successful full-scale implementation.

For more coverage from WEFTEC 2026, visit Wastewater Digest.