by Timothy Rutt
The Foothill Municipal Water District -- a wholesale water supplier to many smaller local water districts -- is going to build a recycled water demonstration project in the area near Devil's Gate Dam, Hahamongna Watershed, and JPL.
Richard Atwater, the president of the water district's board, told the Altadena Town Council that Foothill plans to build a 250,000 gallon per day membrane bioreactor (MBR) in the triangle bounded by Oak Grove Drive, Berkshire Place, and the 201 Freeway. It will be close to the La Canada United Methodist Church and the ballfields at La Canada High School.
Atwater said that last winter markes the fourth driest year in California history in terms of winter rains and snowpack. The district is looking for ways to not only decrease water consumption, but to recharge aquifers.
Foothill itself has only one source of water supply: importing water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). According to Foothill's website, the MBR plant will produce recycled water to recharge the Raymond Groundwater Basin and "to obtain pumping credits to distribute to five of its eight member agencies."
The plant will take in stormwater, urban runoff, and sewer water, treat it, and send it to "infiltration galleries" below the high school ballfields to recharge the aquifer. The project may also send recycled water to Flint Canyon Creek. The plant is estimated to cost $2,935,300 and will be in operation by October 2016.
Currently, recycled water is used by the La Canada Flintridge Country Club and the cities of Glendale and Burbank for landscape irrigation of parks, freeways, schools, cemeteries, and golf courses, among other uses. According to Foothill, the city of Pasadena, the Verdugo Hills Golf Course, and Descanso Gardens are also planning on using recycled water.
Foohill provides water to the Las Flores Water Company, Lincoln Avenue Water Company, and the Rubio Canon Land & Water Association in Altadena, as well as water districts in La Canada Flintridge and La Crescenta.
