AWWA ACE58085

The Groundwater Replenishment (GWR) system is an innovative approach to keepingOrange County's groundwater basin a reliable source for meeting the region's futurepotable water needs. A joint program of the Orange County Water District (OCWD)and the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD), the GWR system is an ambitious,large-scale project that will construct an advanced recycled water treatment facility(AWTF) to treat secondary wastewater for reuse. The facility will replace the agingWater Factory 21 (WF21) which, when completed in 1976, was one of the first recycledwater treatment plants in the world. Using microporous membranes as pretreatmentfor reverse osmosis (RO) and ultraviolet radiation (UV) following RO, Phase 1 of theGWR system will produce 70 million gallons per day (mgd) of highly treated water thatwill meet all drinking water standards. The treated water will be injected into theground to supply the local seawater intrusion barrier and percolated into spreadingbasins for groundwater recharge, thus reducing Southern California's dependence onimported water. Besides providing a new, local source of water, the project will alsoeliminate the need for an additional outfall to the Pacific Ocean, and will improve thewater quality of the Orange County groundwater basin.A project as large and sophisticated as the GWR system faces many significantimplementation challenges through both the design and construction phases. The finaldesign phase, which began in March 2001, will be completed by mid 2003. Theimmensity of the work requires multiple designs with over seven major constructioncontracts for project facilities, including a temporary pretreatment microfiltration (MF) system, MF andUV pre-selected process systems, the AWTF, the conveyance pipelines, and the barrierfacilities. Standards to maintain consistency in design approach and content and a strictquality control procedure have been implemented to provide the foundation for asuccessful design. Specialized facility teams provide the framework to make and recordthe approved technical and management decisions guiding the project. Extensivecontingency planning that was started during the preliminary design is now beingapplied to help the project meet strict public health requirements. Combating thenegative public perception of drinking recycled wastewater, a cohesive public outreachprogram encompassing public presentations and print and radio/television mediaannouncements is leading the District's constituents towards ultimate publicacceptance of this project where other similar projects in Southern California havefailed. Includes tables, figures.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

06/15/2003

Number of Pages:

18

File Size:

1 file , 3.2 MB