Book excerpt: A small but growing number of municipalities are augmenting their drinking water supplies with highly treated wastewater. But some professionals in the field argue that only the purest sources should be used for drinking water. Is potable reuse a viable application of reclaimed water? How can individual communities effectively evaluate potable reuse programs? How certain must "certain" be when it comes to drinking water safety? Issues in Potable Reuse provides the best available answers to these questions. Useful to scientists yet accessible to concerned lay readers, this book defines important terms in the debate and provides data, analysis, and examples of the experience of municipalities from San Diego to Tampa. The committee explores in detail the two major types of contaminants: Chemical contaminants. The committee discusses how to assess toxicity, reduce the input of contaminants, evaluate treatment options, manage the byproducts of disinfection and other issues. Microbial contaminants, including newly emerging waterborne pathogens. The book covers methods of detection, health consequences, treatment, and more. Issues in Potable Reuse reviews the results of six health effects studies at operational or proposed reuse projects. The committee discusses the utility of fish versus mammals in toxicology testing and covers issues in quality assurance.