Recycled Water
Water Reclamation
The Pure Water Southern California partnership with Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts is expected to bring long-term water balance to the Main San Gabriel Basin.
This exciting project will bring up to 80,000 acre-feet of water into the Basin each year for replenishment. Environmental documentation for the project started in 2022 and MWD is looking for ways to fast-track construction.
Water deliveries could begin as soon as the late 2020s. This major new recycled water supply, combined with conservation and the Watermaster’s other management actions, has the potential to bring the Basin into long-term balance.
San Gabriel Valley water agencies are signatories to a letter of intent to use supplies from this source for groundwater replenishment if pending studies and plans for building a transfer system are feasible and affordable.
Resource links for additional information:
In the mid-1990’s a debate in the Valley regarding the use of recycled water centered on a proposal to transport treated wastewater from the San Jose Creek Water Reclamation Plant to the Santa Fe Spreading Grounds in Irwindale to be used to recharge the groundwater supply.
Due to misinformation about potential health impacts and public concern, the focus shifted to an alternative project: direct recharge into the San Gabriel Riverbed, downstream of the Santa Fe Spreading Grounds.
Resource links for additional information:
-
Information on the Santa Fe Spreading Grounds from Upper District
-
California State Waterboard Information on Spreading Grounds and San Gabriel Basin