FOUNTAIN VALLEY – The Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) has reached a major production milestone of half a trillion gallons of purified water as it marks 18 years of service this month. A joint project of the Orange County Water District (OCWD) and the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San), the GWRS is the world’s largest advanced water purification system for indirect potable reuse, reducing dependence on imported supplies and strengthening water reliability for Orange County.
“OCWD and OC San invested early in critical water reuse and recharge infrastructure, and Orange County has reaped the benefits for 18 years,” said OCWD President Denis R. Bilodeau, P.E. “Surpassing half a trillion gallons is an achievement that underscores the role of the GWRS in turning a once-wasted resource into a reliable, locally controlled drinking water supply for the communities we serve.”
The GWRS purifies highly treated wastewater using a three-step treatment process of microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light with hydrogen peroxide. The result is high-quality water that is pumped to recharge basins in Anaheim where it naturally percolates into the Orange County Groundwater Basin, managed by OCWD, and becomes part of the drinking water supply for 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County. GWRS water is also pumped into injection wells located along the Orange County coastline to create a seawater intrusion barrier that protects groundwater supplies…