A geotechnical engineer prepares laboratory samples and documents the findings of borings in Centennial Park.

OCWD staff recently held the Mid-Basin Injection (MBI) Centennial Park kick-off meeting for the design phase. The consultant, Tetra Tech, performed geotechnical and survey work in August. The design is expected to be complete during the late summer of 2016, at which time project financing will be sought. Operation of the four new injection wells is expected by the end of 2019.

In addition to recharging Orange County's groundwater basin, the MBI program addresses the groundwater depression caused by concentrated drinking water pumping in the area by a number of water providers. This pumping lowers the water table in the vicinity of Centennial Park, increases risk of seawater intrusion and reduces pressure within the groundwater aquifers that might contribute to the upwelling of colored water from deeper portions of the basin. In addition, the lower water table increases water production cost due to added energy requirements. The MBI program will raise the water table levels surrounding Centennial Park by directly injecting water into the principal aquifer. As an additional water conservation measure, the city of Santa Ana and OCWD have collaborated to repurpose the back-flush water from the injection wells to be replenishment water for Centennial Park's lakes.