Recycled Water

The logical result from collecting wastewater is to clean it up to a quality which has value as a revenue producer to help offset treatment costs. That process not only conserves limited local fresh water and makes managed water resources more efficient, but makes water management more economical.

EMWD produces two grades of recycled water:

Secondary
Secondary treatment employs biological oxidation to remove nearly all suspended solids and other impurities. This water can be used on pastures for fiber, feed and seed crops not eaten directly by humans.

Tertiary
During the late 1980s, Tertiary treatment became the highest level of treatment, effectively removing bacteria, viruses and virtually all suspended solids. At this level, recycled water can be used for almost any purpose in California except direct consumption.

Because of EMWD's long history with wastewater, public acceptance of its value is justifiably high. Best estimates indicate that EMWD could sell twice as much recycled water as it currently is able to produce. Recycled water is currently used on 22,350 acres, which includes a number of public facilities such as golf courses and several Riverside County schools. The school districts have implemented the use of recycled water to reduce their landscape irrigation costs.

In one noteworthy benefit from a joint program with the US Bureau of Reclamation, Eastern's multipurpose, constructed wetlands in San Jacinto has evolved as a world-renowned wastewater treatment research center, while creating beneficial wildlife habitat.

Recent achievements Customers reaped the benefits from several achievements during 1998-99, which helped to eliminate the need for water or sewer rate hikes for one more year. Two of those factors were effective cost controls and fresh water sales 12 percent higher than the previous year. Although sales volatility is most often predicated on seasonal temperatures and precipitation, the trend in water sales over the longer term is upward.