Managing Long-Term Water Supplies

The use of recycled water is critical for sustainable management of our long-term water supplies. Using treated recycled water instead of potable water to irrigate our parks, schools and commercial properties will have a significantly positive impact on our region’s ability to survive and prosper well into the 22nd century.

Recycled water is a safe, virtually drought-proof source of additional water for our region. Western Municipal Water District is currently expanding and upgrading its own wastewater treatment plant. The Western Water Recycling Facility produces high-quality, tertiary-treated recycled water, a source that is used for irrigation and other purposes allowed by California regulations.

Benefits

A Drought-proof Source

The amount of recycled water available is generally not affected by drought, meaning participating customers don’t risk losing landscaping because of water shortages and potential mandatory rationing. 

Expands Western’s Water Portfolio and Reduces Dependence on Imported Water

 
The costs of potable drinking water supplies continue to climb, making recycled water more cost-effective as an alternative
water supply. 

Represents a New Source of Irrigation Water

Tertiary-treated recycled water can be used for all approved nonpotable applications:

• Agriculture – Food crops for human consumption, orchards, vineyards, fodder, fiber and seed crops, non-fruit bearing trees, and pasture for milking animals and livestock
• Impoundments – Restricted and unrestricted (full-body contact) recreational impoundments, decorative lakes and fountains and fish hatcheries
• Industrial – Industrial processes (e.g., paper manufacturing, carpet and textile dyeing, boiler feed), cooling towers and air conditioning, non-residential toilet, urinal and floor drains, structural and non-structural firefighting, commercial laundries, commercial car washes, concrete mixing, construction (dust control, soil compaction, backfill consolidation around pipelines, including potable), street and sidewalk cleaning, flushing sanitary sewers and snow-making
• Urban Landscape – Parks and playgrounds, schoolyards, unrestricted-access golf courses, residential landscaping, freeway and roadway landscaping, cemeteries, ornamental nurseries and sod farms

Testing Ensures Water Safety

Testing is routinely performed at the treatment plant, with regulatory oversight, to make sure treatment is functioning properly so that the recycled water delivered to the users meets regulatory requirements. Western also performs regular inspections of the sites that use recycled water.