Project Location: South Laguna

The project would be located 1.5 miles inland from the confluence of Aliso Creek and the Pacific Ocean at Aliso Beach Park (not Aliso & Wood Canyons Park.) Project equipment would be placed on an existing asphalt pad next to the Advanced Wastewater and Coastal Treatment Facilities in that area.

Project Goals

• To improve the quality and use of recycled water for irrigation by adding treated creek runoff to lower salinity
• To reduce dependence on imported water and preserve potable water for human consumption by using recycled water
• Beneficial byproduct - To reduce polluted runoff entering the ocean from the creek

Recycled water use reduces regional dependence on imported water and preserves potable water for human consumption.

Project Background

Beginning in 1982, South Coast Water District was one of the first agencies in Orange County to build and operate a recycled water system for irrigation. It is used on larger landscaped areas such as golf courses, parks, resorts, street medians and homeowners’ associations.

As the percentage of imported water from the Colorado River increased, in varying degrees over the years, our local water supply rose in mineral and salt content (aka “harder water.”) These natural salts pass through the wastewater treatment process and make the District’s recycled water too high in salinity for use by some local irrigators, e.g., 1,000 total dissolved solids versus 700 TDS.

Project Description

The District would treat 300,000 to 800,000 gallons per day of urban runoff in the creek based on customer demand and the amount of creek flow. The District’s permits to use water from Aliso Creek require monitoring of potential environmental impacts and a sufficient bypass flow rate (4.7 cubic feet per seconds) to ensure protection of fish and plants and continued flows into the lagoon at the mouth of the creek.

Project Milestones

• Completed an environmental project review required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• Certified a Mitigated Negative Declaration and a Mitigation/Monitoring Plan.
• Received a number of important, necessary permits, including a State Water Rights Permit and State Department of Fish & Game Permit.
• Received $500,000 in Orange County Proposition 50 grant funding and a pledge from the City of Laguna Beach for $25,000 in project support.

Project Status

Securing additional necessary permits and conducting an implementation study.

Project Documents