In our effort to secure drought-proof water sources, the City of Santa Ana has introduced a new Recycled Water Master Plan. Our current recycled water system is owned and operated by the Orange County Water District (OCWD). Known as the Green Acres Project (GAP), it is limited in its scope and only serves a small portion of the city.
The master plan is a long term planning tool that (1) maps out potential new recycled water users, (2) sets the level of funding required to expand the infrastructure of our current system to bring recycled water deeper into the City, (3) provides a framework for design and construction projects, and (4) guides capital improvement schedules and budgets for all future operations. In fact, it is a critical component used by City staff to pursue grant-funding opportunities. Most importantly, it relieves our dependency on imported water and creates a blueprint for a sustainable future.
More Beneficial To Residents
Though California is officially out of its more recent drought, another drought is only a matter of time. History shows that climate trends in California are cyclical: typically between two to five years of drought, followed by an average of two wet years. Building and operating our own recycled water system will provide the City a water supply that is not subject to water use restrictions typically mandated by the state during times of drought, an inevitable reality we face in the future. There are many other benefits too:
- It reduces our reliance on higher cost imported water, which is currently at twenty-four percent of the thirty million gallons we deliver each day.
- It reduces demand on our groundwater basin and preserves this potable water supply for other uses.
- It allows the City to maintain green medians, parks and sports fields for the community.
- There is no fiscal or environmental impact associated with the master plan.
The first stage of this plan—requiring an initial investment of $6.22 million—is a positive step towards our goal of 448 potential recycled water customers consuming about 3,032 acre-feet of recycled water annually and building a greener, more environmentally responsible city.