Water Infrastructure Innovations in California

Graphic illustration of an injection well

Revolutionizing Water Management in Southern California

Building a Sustainable Future in Orange County

The Orange County Water District (OCWD) has long been at the forefront of sustainable water management through its groundbreaking Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). Located in the arid regions of southern California, Orange County currently supports a population of around 3 million residents and is expected to grow by another 300,000 by 2035. With rising demands for clean water, OCWD’s GWRS serves as a lifeline, recycling wastewater to provide a reliable and drought-resistant water supply for nearly 600,000 people every day.

Despite receiving less than a third of California's total rainfall, southern California houses two-thirds of the state’s population. While OCWD does import some water from external sources, this method is both expensive and energy-consuming. Compounding the issue, neighboring states and Mexico also rely on shared water resources, leading to heightened competition as precipitation levels continue to decline. The county's primary water source is a vast groundwater basin capable of yielding close to 300,000 acre-feet annually. However, as far back as the 1940s, the basin began struggling to meet local needs due to overuse, prompting concerns about saltwater intrusion into the drinking water supply.

In response, OCWD launched its groundwater replenishment initiative, a cornerstone of the region’s water infrastructure strategy. This program not only protects the groundwater basin but also reduces reliance on costly imported water. The GWRS has proven to be a game-changer in balancing water supply and demand.

Unveiling the Five-Step Water Purification Process

OCWD’s GWRS operates through a meticulous five-step process designed to deliver safe, clean water:

  1. Preliminary Treatment: Each day, the Orange County Sanitation District processes over 200 million gallons of wastewater through rigorous preliminary treatment. This includes screening, sedimentation, biological treatment, and filtration to remove impurities and ensure compliance with stringent water quality regulations.
  2. Microfiltration: Following initial treatment, water passes through bundles of hollow polypropylene fibers. These fibers have microscopic pores that trap suspended solids, bacteria, and protozoa, producing clear water ready for further purification.
  3. Reverse Osmosis: High-pressure reverse osmosis membranes then filter out dissolved salts, organic compounds, pharmaceutical residues, and viruses, resulting in extremely pure water. At this stage, essential minerals are reintroduced to stabilize the water.
  4. Oxidation and Disinfection: Ultraviolet light paired with hydrogen peroxide treatment ensures complete disinfection and oxidation of any residual contaminants, guaranteeing the highest safety standards.
  5. Injection and Recharge: About one-third of the purified water is directed to coastal injection wells, creating a hydraulic barrier against seawater intrusion. The remaining water, approximately 65 million gallons daily, flows to surface reservoirs in Anaheim. Here, it undergoes natural filtration through layers of sand and gravel before replenishing the groundwater basin with high-quality drinking water.

Since its inception in 2008, the Orange County GWRS has become the world’s largest advanced water purification facility, producing up to 100 million gallons of potable water daily. Its success underscores the district’s commitment to fostering a sustainable future for generations to come.

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