Volusia County Moves to Ban 'Toilet to Tap' Water Reuse

County leaders vote to draft ordinance and charter amendment to prohibit treated sewage from becoming drinking water

Feb. 4, 2026 at 5:07pm

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Volusia County, Florida is taking steps to ban the controversial 'toilet to tap' water reuse practice, even though it is not currently being proposed in the county. The county council voted 7-0 to move forward with drafting both an ordinance and a charter amendment that would permanently prohibit treated sewage from becoming drinking water. While some council members pushed back, saying the issue is not imminent, the majority supported the move to protect the county's existing drinking water supplies.

Why it matters

The 'toilet to tap' practice, where treated wastewater is recycled into drinking water, has long been a source of public concern and controversy. By proactively banning the practice, Volusia County is taking a strong stance to allay resident fears and ensure the long-term protection of its water resources as the region continues to see population growth.

The details

Volusia County leaders say the only city in the county that has ever considered a 'toilet to tap' pilot program was Daytona Beach, and that was ultimately shut down. The county's move would prohibit the practice through both an ordinance and a charter amendment, with the latter giving the ban stronger long-term protection that would require a public vote to undo. While some council members argued the issue is not currently imminent, the majority supported the preemptive action to limit development and protect existing drinking water supplies.

  • On Tuesday, the Volusia County Council voted 7-0 to move forward with drafting the ordinance and charter amendment.
  • The proposed ordinance and charter amendment will be drafted and discussed further before any final decisions are made.
  • It is expected to come up again in March for further discussion.

The players

Jeff Brower

Volusia County Chair, who said 'toilet to tap is a horrible idea' that needs to be banned.

Greg Gumbert

A Volusia County resident who said creating a charter amendment would give the ban long-term protection.

Jake Johansson

A Volusia County Council member who pushed back, saying toilet to tap is not currently being proposed in the county or its cities.

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What they’re saying

“Toilet to tap is, you know, it does get people's attention, and it should, because it's a horrible idea.”

— Jeff Brower, Volusia County Chair

“The ordinance they pass can be undone at any county council with a majority of the council. Once it's put in the charter, that's like putting it up on the top shelf of the regulation pile, where the only way you can undo it is with the vote of the people.”

— Greg Gumbert, Volusia County Resident

“If we're going to do that, I would also like to restrict the use of autonomous vehicles that float above the ground.”

— Jake Johansson, Volusia County Council Member

What’s next

The proposed ordinance and charter amendment will be drafted and discussed further before any final decisions are made. It is expected to come up again in March for further discussion.

The takeaway

Volusia County's proactive move to ban 'toilet to tap' water reuse, even though it is not currently being proposed, demonstrates the county's commitment to protecting its existing drinking water supplies in the face of continued population growth. The dual ordinance and charter amendment approach aims to provide long-term protection against the controversial practice.