Recycled pipeline project provides a local, reliable water source for CA utility

RIVERSIDE-CA, MARCH 28, 2018 -- Western Municipal Water District (Western) Board of Directors, staff and regional partners recently celebrated the Meridian Recycled Water Pipeline project, honoring the District's commitment to regional water supply reliability. The new recycled waterline saves approximately 100 acre feet per year of potable water, which translates to 32 million gallons and enough water to serve 125 households annually.

"This valuable project is another example of our commitment to meet water demands today, tomorrow and in the future," said Western's General Manager Craig Miller. "The Meridian Recycled Water project's completion benefits our local water supply by using the right water source for the right use."

The multi-phase project was a successful collaboration between Meridian Parkway developers, contractors, March Joint Powers Authority and Western Municipal Water District's staff. The initial project began in 2014, and the final 1,500 feet of purple recycled water pipe was installed under Van Buren Boulevard, which connects to the existing recycled water distribution system in the Meridian Parkway area just north of Van Buren Boulevard.

Western staff members worked in partnership with March Joint Powers Authority, which owns the land surrounding the project, and businesses in the area to ensure the water meter transitions from potable water to the recycled water line. As part of the project, 112 commercial and landscape meters were inventoried and inspected, of which 40 meters were converted. The recycled water transmission pipeline is about two and a half miles long. The project cost was about $4 million.

Each meter required irrigation plans and reports filed with California State's Department of Drinking Water.

Another important aspect of this project included the assurance of non-cross contamination between the previous potable water lines to the new recycled water lines. The cross connector testing, which is an eight hour process for each meter, was successfully completed.

In addition to recycled water, Western is also working on several other local reliability projects, including groundwater storage, water desalination and a long-term water purchase agreement with the City of Riverside to purchase local water at a lower cost for customers.