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The North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition was recognized June 16, 2016 as a Golden Watchdog finalist in San Diego County Taxpayers Association’s 21st Annual Golden Watchdog Awards.

The Taxpayer’s Association commended the Coalition’s aim to expand water reuse in North County through a comprehensive, cross-jurisdictional partnership matching areas of high recycled water demand to facilities that can produce enough recycled water to meet that demand. The project also explores implementing advanced water treatment to reuse water for potable purposes. Water recycling and reuse reduces North County’s dependence on increasingly scarce and expensive imported water.

The Coalition strives to maximize efficiencies in providing local, drought-proof water supplies through its Regional Recycled Water Project. One method of maximizing efficiencies is in the pursuit of grant funding. To date, coalition partners have earned nearly $15 million dollars in grant funding from the California Department of Water Resources. Additionally, the Coalition continues to work with San Diego County’s federal representatives in hopes of achieving up to $50 million in federal funding for the project.

“The Golden Watchdog Award recognizes the best in local government efficiency, spending, and decision-making. As a Coalition partner, we are proud to be a finalist,” said Ed Sprague, President of Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors, on behalf of all Coalition partners. “Coalition efforts have significantly reduced the costs of infrastructure investment to ratepayers, allowing water and wastewater agencies to better serve North County.”

The Taxpayers Association recognition comes only days after the Coalition was highlighted in a May 31 report by the San Diego Grand Jury, which commended the Coalition for its “voluntary, collaborative and innovative approach to enhancing the reliability and diversity of water supply.” The Coalition will formally respond to the positive Grand Jury Report later this summer.

The participating agencies—Carlsbad Municipal Water District, City of Escondido, Leucadia Wastewater District, City of Oceanside, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, Santa Fe Irrigation District, Vallecitos Water District, and Vista Irrigation District—began collaboration in 2010 to more cost-effectively reduce potable water use at a regional level through water recycling and reuse. The group developed a Regional Recycled Water Facilities Plan in 2011, and many individual construction elements of the project are underway.

Upon completion of all long-term project elements, the Coalition’s Regional Recycled Water Project will add nearly 32 million gallons per day of recycled water and potable reuse water to North County’s water supply portfolio, offsetting the annual water demand of over 70,000 households.

The Taxpayer’s Association is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, dedicated to promoting accountable, cost-effective and efficient government. Its Golden Watchdog Awards program celebrates efficient use of tax dollars in San Diego County, and educates taxpayers on how government spends tax dollars locally.