WRD expands recycled water capacity to 8 million gallons per day

LAKEWOOD, CA, Jan. 2, 2015 -- On Thursday, Dec. 18, the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) held a dedication ceremony for its newly expanded Leo J. Vander Lans Advanced Water Treatment Facility (LVLAWTF). With the new development, the advanced water treatment facility will now go from producing 3 million gallons of treated wastewater per day to 8 million gallons per day.

The expansion "marks an historic moment for the Water Replenishment District of Southern California and for the 4 million residents in our service area who rely on our groundwater supply for daily life," said WRD Board President Sergio Calderon. "With the expanded Leo J. Vander Lans Treatment facility online, the recycled water we now produce brings us ever closer to our goal of 100-percent independence from expensive and unreliable imported water."

In addition to the increase of 5 million gallons of recycled water that will be produced each day, the plant has now further reduced waste and raised overall recovery from 77 to 92 percent, propelling VLVLAWTF forward into water efficiency.

(L-R): Former WRD Director Leo J. Vander Lans; WRD Director Rob Katherman; Congressman Alan Lowenthal; WRD Director Lynn Dymally; Assembly Member Patrick O'Donnell; WRD Director Albert Robles; WRD Director Willard H. Murray, Jr.

"This state-of-the-art facility is a leader in advanced water treatment," stated WRD Board Treasurer Albert Robles. "WRD is not just breaking new ground, but leading the water industry into a sustainable future that will shield us from future droughts like the one we are currently facing."

The Alamitos Barrier that currently protects the groundwater in the Central Basin from coastal saltwater intrusion will now use 100-percent recycled water produced from LVLAWTF. As water pumpers extract water from the Central Basin, natural water pressures that keep saltwater from entering into and contaminating the groundwater basin are reduced.

Consequently, millions of gallons of freshwater needs to be injected into the ground to serve as a barrier and prevent saltwater contamination. The expansion project means that WRD will not need to utilize any imported water in the Alamitos Barrier, thus reducing reliance on water imported from northern California.

See also:

"Groundwater supplies to be focus of CA advanced water treatment plant expansion"

"WRD State of the District Address celebrates achievements for advanced water programs"

About WRD

The Water Replenishment District of Southern California is the regional groundwater management agency that protects and preserves the quantity and quality of groundwater for two of the most utilized urban basins in the State of California. The service area is home to over 4 million residents, nearly half of Los Angeles County, across 43 cities. WRD is governed by a publicly elected Board of Directors which includes Willard H. Murray, Jr., Robert Katherman, Lynn Dymally, Sergio Calderon, and Albert Robles. For more information, visit www.wrd.org.

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