It would initially be expected to produce about 1,000 acre feet of potable water annually and could eventually reach as much as 5,000 acre feet per year. The water would then be pumped out, treated a final time, and put into the potable water supply.īunts said the district plans to begin introducing the treated wastewater to the groundwater basin in 2 1/2 to 3 years, and begin extracting it in 3 1/2 to 4 years. Part of its benefit will be to allow the storage of water during wet periods for later use during summer and fall months.Īfter treating the wastewater, the Santa Margarita Water District would allow it soak into the groundwater aquifer and recharge supplies there. The $109 million reservoir will hold treated wastewater for reuse and will be the largest such recycled water storage receptacle in Southern California, according to Don Bunts, the district’s deputy general manager. “Trampas Reservoir allows the district to maximize recycled use and bring us closer to zero wastewater discharge into the ocean,” said Betty Olson, president of the water district. While water may not start filling the reservoir until December, they opened the valve on Friday to spray in a few ceremonial gallons, as state, county and local officials gathered - both in person and virtually - to celebrate the dedication of what should look like a lake a year from now. That in, in turn, will provide a buffer from droughts and other circumstances that could reduce imported flows. While the district currently imports 100% of its drinking water from the Colorado River and northern California, the new Trampas Canyon Reservoir is part of a plan to generate 30% of potable water supplies locally and to recycle more wastewater. During the winter months, more wastewater is generated than recycled water is needed which results in the District discharging the excess to the ocean.It’s still dry as dirt, but promises to be a central component of future water supplies for the 165,000 people served by the Santa Margarita Water District. These plants are not only capable of treating the wastewater to the secondary treatment necessary to discharge to the ocean but can apply tertiary treatment which allows the water to be utilized in the District's recycled water system. This has been achieved by innovative urban return projects as well as operating three wastewater reclamation plants. The District has one of the largest recycled water programs in Orange County. To provide additional security against long-term service interruption, the District is working with regional partners to develop regional water storage solutions. However, the District typically brings in 10 billion gallons of drinking water per year. Santa Margarita Water District has a storage capacity of almost 430 million gallons of drinking water which represents one of the largest storage capacities in Orange County. In order to provide more reliability, SMWD is working on an alternative water supply by 2030. The District is almost entirely reliant on imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The District's mission statement strives to ".provide our customers with quality water and wastewater service – maximizing human, environmental, and financial resources – to help guide South Orange County’s water and wastewater needs into the next century."Īs part of this goal, the District is currently focused on three strategic goals by 2030: 1. Santa Margarita Water District provides high-quality drinking water, recycled water, and wastewater services in southern Orange County.
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