OCWD has influenced the creation of water recycling plants around the globe. Since 2008, when the Groundwater Replenishment System was launched, OCWD has shared specifications, data and analyses with professionals in the water industry.

During the month of June, OCWD hosted the Expert Panel appointed by the State Water Resources Control Board (the State Water Board) and managed by the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) to help develop criteria for surface water augmentation with recycled water and to evaluate the feasibility of developing criteria for direct potable reuse (DPR). The District also hosted a meeting of the Independent Advisory Panel for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) groundwater replenishment project.

The State Water Board/NWRI Panel is nearing completion of developing surface water augmentation criteria similar to the groundwater recharge criteria that became official regulations for California in June 2014 under the Governor’s drought emergency declaration. After the surface water augmentation criteria have been developed, the Expert Panel will focus on DPR. Approval of DPR has the potential to greatly increase the flexibility with water reuse in California, including reduction or elimination of retention time requirements prior to potable reuse and possible use of highly purified recycled water blended with water from other sources feeding into conventional drinking water treatment plants.

The visit, which included a briefing of the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) and tour, helped to bolster confidence among the regulators regarding advanced water purification processes for potable reuse, including the eventual development of criteria for direct potable reuse.

District staff additionally hosted the Independent Advisory Panel for LADWP, which is managed by NWRI. The Independent Panel was asked to advise the city regarding the treatment and recharge options that it should consider for replenishing groundwater supplies in the San Fernando Valley with recycled water.

The current drought and the recent loss of Owens Valley water for the LADWP has heightened the urgency of developing a recycled water recharge project to increase reliable groundwater supplies in the San Fernando Basin.

OCWD provided a briefing and tour of the GWRS facilities to both the Independent Panel and staff from the LADWP and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles regarding the achievability of very high quality water through advanced water purification of secondary effluent.

For several years, LADWP has been working with a citizen advisory group known as RWAG, the Recycled Water Advisory Group. Both RWAG and the Independent Panel are urging the LADWP to consider treatment and recharge options that it can deploy more quickly while continuing to pursue longer term goals of full advanced water purification for groundwater replenishment and potentially using the highly purified water to supplement raw water supplies from imported sources.

OCWD is proud to work with LADWP and the NWRI Panel to advance water reuse in local communities and throughout the state. For more information about NWRI visit www.nwri-usa.org. For additional information about LADWP's RWAG, visit http://bit.ly/1IqZP3p.