News

Today, Olivenhain Municipal Water District began serving recycled water to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in southern Encinitas. Irrigation needs were previously met with potable water. More than 680,000 gallons of imported water are estimated to be saved every year.

“San Diego remains reliant on imported water from Northern California and the Colorado River,” said OMWD Board Secretary Christy Guerin. “It’s critical that we continue to expand our recycled water distribution to reduce our dependence on imported water.”

The National Weather Service is forecasting a drier-than-average winter for Southern California. To ensure the continued availability of water for over 19 million residents in the area, it is important that water is used efficiently, and recycled water is used for irrigation where applicable.

Recycled water is locally produced, disinfected wastewater that is used for irrigation, and is not only a drought-resilient supply, but also costs less than potable water. OMWD produces up to two million gallons of recycled water daily at its 4S Ranch Water Reclamation Facility and supplements this supply with recycled water purchased from neighboring water and wastewater agencies. By partnering with other agencies and sharing resources across jurisdictional boundaries, OMWD is able to continue expanding its recycled water distribution system. In total, OMWD meets up to 15 percent of its demands with recycled water.