$22.4-Million Water Recycling Project Will Save Millions of Gallons

The city of San Clemente will start using millions of gallons per day of recycled water for irrigation through reclamation plant expansion, reservoir refurbishments, a new pressure station and miles of new pipeline through the city.

“This is a really great project, and to me, throwing those millions and millions of gallons into the ocean every day is ridiculous,” said Councilman Jim Dahl. “We should be using it on our plants and green belts, and it will lead to a cleaner ocean.”

The $22.4-million project will reduce by 7 percent the need for San Clemente to buy water from the Metropolitan Water District, which continues to raise its prices.

The reclamation plant will more than double its peak capacity, from 2.2 million gallons per day to 5 million gallons per day. The improvements will save almost 304 million gallons of water per year, according to staff documents.

The cash is coming from a $5.6-million grant from the state, $477,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency, $12.4 million to be borrowed from a state low-interest revolving loan fund and city money.

The recycled water will be sent to big irrigation users throughout the city, such as homeowners associations, Shorecliffs Golf Course, schools and parks, said assistant city engineer Dave Rebensdorf.

The council approved the project unanimously.

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