Politics & Government

RMWD Applies for Recycled Water Project Grant

The district outlined two projects, one for each of their wastewater treatment plants.

Ramona Municipal Water District has applied for a grant that may increase the recycled water projects in town.

According to the district, the Metropolitan Water Authority has offered up a grant called the Foundational Actions Funding (FAF) Program and is seeking applicants for "innovative technical studies or pilot projects related to resource development of recycled water."

The district had just eight days to prepare the grant proposal, which was submitted May 28.

Find out what's happening in Ramonawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

RMWD said examples of studies under the FAF Program may include:

  • Analysis of how to maximize opportunities for indirect potable reuse
  • Analysis of the ability for reduced brine-discharge approaches to help improve resource availability

FAF Program would not include:

Find out what's happening in Ramonawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Funding CEQA documentation for projects
  • Existing studies or projects
  • Acquisition of property
  • Design of full-scale projects
  • Construction of full-scale projects

The water district said the potential projects funded by the grant should not be "prohibitively expensive" and will have a limited rate impact to RMWD customers.

Potential projects for both the San Vicente Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Santa Maria Wastewater Treatment Plant have been planned out, should the grant be awarded to the district. District General Manager David Barnum has summarized each project as follows:

San Vicente Wastewater Treatment Plant

The expansion of the SVWWTP Reverse Osmosis System. The goal would be to potentially create more recycled water and reduce brine hauling as much as possible. The district predicts six months for this project to be completed.

Benefits

  • Initial capital costs of less than $200,000
  • Small amount of additional recycled water production
  • Potentially a 30 percent decline in brine hauling which would be a potential cost savings of $100,000 per year
  • The reduced brine production could result in a smaller and less expensive future brine pond project at the SVWWTP
  • Potential project payback in less than two years

Challenges

  • Space limitations at the San Vicente plant
  • Will have to investigate permit and regulatory requirements

 

Santa Maria Wastewater Treatment Plant

Possible expansion of the current recycled water system using existing untreated water pipes and tank infrastructure and investigate an indirect potable reuse (IPR) project utilizing recycled water and Lake Ramona. The goal would be to eventually utilize all of the approximately 300AF per year of effluent that is currently sprayed on the SMWWTP spray fields. The district projects two years for this project to be completed.

Benefits

  • Less spraying could result in less spray field property and reduced costs to RMWD sewer customers
  • Potential additional revenue source with additional recycled water production
  • The project would be the low cost alternative to new construction by utilizing existing untreated water lines and tank

Challenges

  • There would be initial capital cost to upgrade the existing tertiary treatment plant and upgrade or install new lines
  • Impacts to the existing untreated water system will have to be investigated
  • Will have to investigate permit and regulatory requirements
What do you think of the proposed recycled water projects? Tell us in the comments.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here