WateReuse CA Review

News from WateReuse California (WRCA)

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May 2022

WateReuse California Update

WateReuse California Annual Conference

Presentation Proposal Deadline: June 1. Submit your Presentation Today!

Don’t miss the annual WateReuse California conference on September 11 – 13 at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero in San Francisco.

The in-person program will include a wealth of technical sessions, panel presentations, tours, and networking opportunities. Register today to save big with Early Bird rates!

Submit an Award Nomination by June 10!

WateReuse California is accepting nominations for the 2022 California Awards of Excellence! Awards are given for Agency of the Year (Small, Medium, and Large), Outreach/Education Program, Advocate, Customer, and Staff Person. The awards ceremony will take place at the 2022 Annual WateReuse Conference in San Francisco.

Submit today!

WateReuse California Publishes Summary of Water Recycling Funding Opportunities

WateReuse California is now providing monthly updates of key recycled water funding opportunities at the local, state, and federal level. Read more.

WateReuse California Launches Statewide Map of Water Recycling Projects

This month WateReuse California launched an interactive map detailing recycled water uses (Title 22), as well as environmental and natural system discharges in the state. The datasets are derived from the California State Water Resources Control Board’s 2020 annual volumetric reporting and allow users to filter by end use, such as agricultural irrigation, potable reuse, and industrial uses. The map will be updated annually with new reporting data from the Water Board. Explore the map.

Governor’s Budget Revisions Include $100 million for Water Recycling Grants

The 2022-23 Governor's Budget revisions (May Revise) build on the three-year investment passed in the FY 2021-22 budget.

New proposed budget funding for recycled water includes a total of $315 million in grants:

$50 million grant for the City of San Diego Pure Water Program (FY 2021/22 budget)
$165 million in grants for statewide recycled water projects (FY 2021/22 budget)
Proposed $100 million in grants for statewide recycled water projects (added in the May Revise)

The revisions also propose $400 million and 9 personnel years, i.e., California State Water Resources Control Board staff, to provide partial matching funding for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, a necessary action to implement the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

WateReuse California supports the Senate Drought Package which includes $1.5 billion as combined funding for recycled water, groundwater cleanup and stormwater capture. The budget and trailer bill language will likely not be complete until the end of the legislative session.

Chapter Updates and Member News

CoCo San Sustainable Farms Showcases Agricultural Reuse and Community Giving
Carolyn Phinney had the vision and drive to transform a plot of barren land behind the Central San’s treatment plant into CoCo San Sustainable Farm, showcasing how recycled water can grow food for our communities. Read the story

U.S. EPA Announces Loan to Recharge California Aquifer with Recycled Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) announced a $48 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan to the City of Oxnard to support its Aquifer Storage Recovery Project. “EPA is proud to provide this loan to help Oxnard expand water reuse,” said U.S. EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. Read more.

Water Replenishment District Breaks Ground on Recycled Water Project
The Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) celebrated the groundbreaking of its Inland Injection Well Project in Long Beach. Expected to be complete by this summer, the project will yield up to 2 million gallons of purified recycled water per day and inject it into groundwater aquifers for storage and future use. Read more.

As Drought Worsens, Governor Visits Water Recycling Facility
Governor Gavin Newsom visited a water recycling demonstration facility in Carson, CA last week to highlight solutions for the ongoing drought. The facility, a joint effort of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, is the first step in a regional advanced purification project that could replenish local groundwater basins. “California will need to use every tool in its toolbox to safeguard our communities, businesses and ecosystems from the severe, climate-driven drought being felt throughout the West,” Newsom said. Read more.

Livermore Approves Development with Purple Pipe
The City of Livermore is moving forward with water recycling as the City Council voted to approve a new development that includes purple pipe for irrigation. The landscaping will be entirely irrigated with recycled water, plants will be medium or low water users, and many plant species will be native pollinators. Read more.

Los Angeles Using Water Recycling to Adapt to Shrinking Supplies
Irrigation restrictions in California signaled a renewed urgency for water recycling. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is pursuing robust water conservation measures alongside water recycling to adapt to the current megadrought. “The potential for L.A. to live more within its water means is tremendous,” says Felica Marcus, former California State Water Resources Control Board chair, visiting fellow at Stanford University, and WateReuse Board Member. “But we need to do it even faster than we’re doing it right now.” Read more.

Bay Area Partnership Explores Water Recycling
Partners in the Bay Area continue to advance a multi-agency Potable Reuse Exploratory Plan, as highlighted in a recent article and presentation to San Mateo City Council. San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, Redwood City, The City of San Mateo, Cal Water, and Silicon Valley Clean Water are ready to move forward with preliminary design and environmental documentation for an advanced water purification facility to recycle water to drinking standards. Read more.