UWM Plan - Municipal Water District of Orange County

6.4.2. Indirect Potable Reuse
Section 6
Recycled Water
The indirect potable water reuse via groundwater recharge and for seawater barriers is
currently about 67,000 AFY and is expected to reach 102,000 acre-feet by 2015. This
water is produced by the GWRS project which will ultimately supply about 132,000 AFY
if the further envisioned phase of the project is approved and developed.
6.5. Optimization Plan
Metropolitan and MWDOC supports research efforts to encourage development and use
of recycled water. These include conducting studies and research to address public
concerns, developing new technologies, and assessing health effects. Addressing public
concerns is required to gain the support of stakeholders early in the planning process.
Education is required to inform the public of treatment processes. Developing new
technologies is a prerequisite to help reduce the cost of producing recycled water. Health
effects assessments have a two-fold purpose of alleviating public concerns and ensuring
the protection of public health and the environment. Further research supported by
Metropolitan and others (such as the National Water Research Institute) will have the
benefit of reducing risks for MWDOC’s retail agencies.
Recycled water production is projected to increase to 164,071 AFY by 2035 including
GWRS production. This means that 37% of the wastewater generated in the MWDOC
service area will be recycled and will constitute a significant and valuable resource. To
assist in meeting these projections, MWDOC plans to take numerous actions to facilitate
the use and production of recycled water within its service area. However, MWDOC is a
wholesaler and does not impose development requirements or enact ordinances that
mandate the use of recycled water. Most recycled water projects that provide the greatest
benefit for the cost have been developed or are planned. In many cases, additional
recycled water production and use is economically unfeasible given the current cost of
potable water supplies in comparison to recycled water costs. MWDOC has taken the
following actions to facilitate further production and use of recycled water:
• Sponsoring member agencies in obtaining Local Resources Program (LRP)
incentives from Metropolitan;
• Assisting and supporting member agencies in applications made for bond funds
such as Proposition 84;
• Encouraging Metropolitan to participate in studies that will benefit recycled water
production;
• Supporting Metropolitan in deriving solutions to regulatory issues;
• Participating in regional plan such as the South Orange County IRWMP;
• Working cooperatively with member agencies, Metropolitan and its member
agencies, and other Orange County water and wastewater agencies to encourage
Municipal Water District of Orange County
2010 Regional Urban Water Management Plan
Final
6-11