South Coast Water District Receives a $2 Million Grant to Increase Use of Recycled Water by South Coast Water District Feb 1, 2022 Member Submitted News The Bureau of Reclamation selected the South Coast Water District’s “Recycled Water Distribution Improvements Phase II Project” for a $2 million grant. It is one of the Bureau’s initial 2022 selection of 13 projects for $20.5 million in grants to build long-term drought resiliency. South Coast Water District’s project will expand the District’s recycled water system by enlarging the current recycled water pipelines. Replacing a pressure-reducing valve will provide a recycled water supply in place of the imported potable water supply within Dana Point. It will resolve low-pressure issues that currently limit the amount of recycled water delivered to District customers. Increases in recycled water demands for irrigation coupled with a small diameter main has resulted in a “bottleneck” issue. The “bottleneck” limits the amount of recycled water the District can supply to its customers and prevents the District from achieving its water reliability and drought response goals. The proposed Phase II Project includes installing approximately 5,700 linear feet of 14-inch diameter transmission main in Monarch Beach Drive and Stonehill Drive to replace the existing smaller diameter pipelines serving Dana Hills High School. It will also replace a pipe at the current Recycled Water Reservoir 2 site, producing an additional 347 acre-feet per year (AFY) of recycled water. “The Western United States is experiencing unprecedented dryness and drought,” said Chief Engineer David Raff. “This WaterSMART funding will help communities be more resilient and diversify their water supplies as climate change makes droughts worse.” The Bureau of Reclamation’s Drought Response Program is part of WaterSMART. It supports a proactive approach to drought by providing water managers assistance to implement projects to build long-term resiliency to drought and climate change while supporting President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.
