|
The reality is different. When people take the time to think about water resources, they realize that sufficient water is not guaranteed -- not in the arid regions of Southern California and especially not in Orange County.
As part of an arid landscape, Orange County faces a unique challenge: how to continue to provide water for the economy and for our families having families. For now, water purchased from outside Southern California has been the answer. The need for new water in Orange Couny has grown dramatically in recent years. Metropolitan Water District, the large imported water agency that provides water to Southern California, is counting on projects like the GWR System to help ensure future water reliability.
Need for new water supplies
Currently, the north-central portion of the county's drinking water supply is mostly groundwater and the rest is purchased imported water. However, the projected water demand for the year 2020 for central and north Orange County is 600,000 acre-feet (which is enough water for 1.3 million families annually) compared to current consumption of about 500,000 acre-feet per year (which is enough water for one million families annually). These projections indicate that demand will far outweigh supply. This imbalance will become even more pronounced in a drought.
Faced with this prospect, Orange County must secure a safe, reliable and locally-controlled alternative source of water for the years ahead. Water agencies must explore a variety of alternatives, including conservation, water transfers and water purification.
An innovative and environmentally responsible solution
One innovative way to create a new source of very high quality water for Orange County residents is the GWR System.
The Groundwater Replenishment System will provide a high quality, reliable water supply for Orange County's growing population. The system, which is scheduled to go on line in 2007, will divert highly treated sewer water currently discharged into the ocean, and treat it through advanced techniques, including microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection and hydrogen peroxide. The resulting water will be so pure, it will actually improve the overall quality of the groundwater basin by lowering the mineral content.
Approval process
In March 1999, the environmental review documents for this project were unanimously certified, marking the first major milestone for the Groundwater Replenishment System.
|
With the earth's population growing, the United Nations, World Bank and several world leaders have warned that the lack of water resources will become a global crisis by the end of this century. The Groundwater Replenishment System can be replicated in other arid parts of the world. For example, Singapore is already using a system modeled after the Groundwater Replenishment System.
|
|
The project has subsequently obtained a California Department of Health Services permit, conducted a water quality study, completed project development studies and conducted widespread public outreach activities. The water agencies' voted to proceed with project final design in March 2001. The project is scheduled to be on line in 2007. The project can be expanded as the need for water increases.
Orange County has successfully purified water for years
As the new millennium began, the search for a new, safe and reliable source of water became a top priority for Orange County. This issue was of such importance that in 1995 the Orange County Grand Jury issued a report entitled "Wider Use of Orange County Reclaimed Water," endorsing the search for new uses for purified water. The report specifically urged the two agencies to proceed with the Groundwater Replenishment System.
The Groundwater Replenishment System is a practical approach already adopted in some form by other water agencies. In fact, reclaimed water is commonly used to protect groundwater supplies from the invasion of seawater in Long Beach, Los Angeles County and Orange County. For 25 years, Orange County Water District's Water Factory 21 has successfully produced purified water to inject into the seawater intrusion barrier, protecting the county's critical groundwater supply. The water purified to drinking water standards eventually blends with the groundwater in the basin.
Similar projects have been operating for years in Los Angeles; Arizona; Fairfax, Virginia; Europe and elsewhere. Every year new similar projects are being developed around the globe.
As Orange County forges toward the future, the question of where to find a dependable source for one of life's most precious commodities must be addressed. The experience of similar projects indicates that the Groundwater Replenishment System will be a safe and reliable option for meeting the projected water demands of north and central Orange County.
|