AWWA ACE71070

Recycled water facilities are becoming more common as a solution to the water shortages faced by growing communities, especially in semi-arid areas like Southern California. Communities are now considering wastewater a valuable resource to be conserved, rather than a waste product to be discharged to the ocean. Through proper treatment, its benefits include reduced total dissolved solids (TDS) in the groundwater basins and postponed wastewater facility construction. The economics of recycled water are now at a point where recycling water can be competitive with other new surface water sources. This paper highlights the experience of the Orange County Water District's Groundwater Replenishment (GWR) System, the Water Replenishment District's Vander Lans Water Treatment Plant, and the Miami- Dade Water and Sewer Department's South District Water Reclamation Plant. Highlighted are the following topics: management; design/construction; permitting; funding; public outreach; and, scheduling. Includes tables, figures.