News

Olivenhain Municipal Water District has completed construction of several recycled water pipelines in Carlsbad and Encinitas.

The installation of over 5,600 feet of new pipelines will allow several HOA communities in the project area to convert their irrigation systems to recycled water, resulting in more than 12.5 million gallons of drinking water saved every year.

“Converting our irrigation system to recycled water was the right decision,” said Paul Heller, Summerhill HOA board president. “We’ll be less impacted by future droughts that could limit watering schedules, and recycled water is more affordable than drinking water, which will reduce costs for our residents.”

OMWD secured more than $900,000 in grant funding to make the project cost-effective for ratepayers. Specifically, both the US Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program, and the California Department of Water Resources’ Integrated Regional Water Management Program contributed grant funds to offset project costs.

“Converting our commercial customers to recycled water for irrigation will help ease our dependence on imported water,” said OMWD board secretary Christy Guerin. “And by using grant funds to help with the costs involved, we’re minimizing the impacts to ratepayers.”

The project was completed on time and with no interruptions to customers’ water supplies.

Recycled water is locally produced, disinfected wastewater that is used for irrigation purposes. OMWD meets up to 15 percent of its overall demand with recycled water and continues to identify additional ways to make recycled water available to eligible customers.