In light of setting the American record for most days in space, astronaut Peggy Whitson recently spoke with President Trump about her experience. The conversation got to how the astronauts are converting their urine into drinking water, which Whitson considers "not as bad as it sounds" to drink.

For those in the water industry, the act of converting waste into water, which is called reuse water, recycled water or reclaimed water, isn't a new idea. Many cities use this water for irrigation or industrial purposes, but some even turn wastewater into drinking water, especially in areas facing drought and water shortages.

As Whitson stated in her interview, “Water is such a precious resource up here.” Yes, water certainly is a precious resource up there and here on Earth too.

For more information on reuse, visit AWWA's Potable Resource page.