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6/9/04
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| What is recycled water? | |
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In California alone, almost 200 billion gallons of recycled water are used each year. |
Recycled water is "used" water that has been reclaimed and cleaned so that it can be reused for landscape irrigation and industrial purposes. The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) produces recycled water from the wastewater it collects from homes and businesses in the central Contra Costa County area. This wastewater flows through underground pipelines to CCCSD's treatment plant in Martinez, where it undergoes a rigorous cleaning process that complies with stringent federal, regional and state water quality requirements. Most of this treated wastewater is then safely released into Suisun Bay, but a portion is diverted to CCCSD's Recycled Water Filter Plant where it undergoes additional filtration and disinfection and must comply with state and regional recycled water quality requirements before it is allowed to be distributed to our customers. The end result is high-quality recycled water that can irrigate parks, golf courses and school yards, provide dust control, and be used for industrial and other non-potable uses. CCCSD's recycled water meets strict regulations concerning its quality and use, but it is not treated to drinking water standards and is approved for non-potable purposes only. |
| Is recycled water safe? | |
To ensure a consistent level of safety, recycled water is regulated and monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and Department of Health Services. In addition, CCCSD monitors and tests the recycled water in its new environmental testing laboratory to ensure that it meets all regulatory requirements. |
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| Can recycled water be used on food crops? | |
Yes, CCCSD's recycled water is suitable for irrigating any food crop. It is not currently used for such purposes given the lack of local agricultural customers. |
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| What laws regulate the
treatment and use of recycled water? |
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In California, the production, conveyance and use of recycled water is regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board through the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The State Department of Health Services and local health agencies provide input about requirements for specific recycled water projects. Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, written and administered by the Department of Health Services, is one of the most stringent recycled water regulations in the world and is being used as a model for other states. There is presently no federal legislation that controls recycled water uses. |
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| Why does our community need recycled water? | |
Water is always in short supply in California. The California Department of Water Resources has predicted chronic water shortages by the year 2020. The need for water is expected to grow, driven by increasing population, need for protection of the Delta, and continued industrialization. Increased conservation efforts will slow but not stop this growth in demand. Using drought-proof recycled water can help resolve water supply problems by reducing dependence on freshwater for uses such as landscape irrigation, dust control, and industrial cooling. Thus, the best and purest source of water can be reserved for public drinking water. Water recycling provides an additional viable source of water to meet our growing needs. |
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| How is CCCSD's recycled water treated? | |
Wastewater from more than 448,000 homes and businesses in central Contra Costa County flows through underground pipelines to CCCSD's treatment plant in Martinez. During primary treatment, solid matter is screened and settled out of the wastewater. Secondary treatment uses beneficial bacteria to digest and remove organic contaminants from the wastewater. The water is then disinfected using ultraviolet light. Most of the treated wastewater is then safely released into Suisun Bay, while the water destined for recycling receives an additional advanced treatment step at CCCSD's Filter Plant. This tertiary treatment process includes chemical-assisted filtration and chlorine disinfection. The result is recycled water suitable for many uses. |
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| How is CCCSD's recycled water distributed? | |
CCCSD's recycled water is distributed directly to users via a pressure distribution system that consists of purple pipelines, pumping stations, and meter box assemblies (purple pipes are used to distinguish them from drinking water lines). The recycled water distribution system is completely separate from the drinking water distribution system. A comprehensive evaluation and physical test of each customer's water system is conducted to verify that it is separate from any drinking water system. This inspection is required by the Department of Health Services prior to any customer beginning service off the recycled water system, and ensures that no cross-connections occur between the customer's drinking water system and CCCSD's recycled water system. |
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| Who uses CCCSD's recycled water? | |
Landscape irrigators, government corporation yards, private soil farms and concrete recycling plants have been recycled water customers with CCCSD since 1997. In 1998, CCCSD expanded the recycled water distribution system into the Pleasant Hill community and added golf courses, parks, city grounds, schools, and college campuses to the growing list of recycled water customers. CCCSD is actively marketing recycled water to large local water consumers who are located near its recycled water transmission main. This transmission main extends about seven miles into the Pleasant Hill community as far south as Boyd Road. CCCSD plans to continue building the distribution system into the Concord, Martinez, Walnut Creek, and Lamorinda areas in the future. Large irrigation sites are currently being identified as potential customers. |
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