With a large percentage of the District's water being used for landscape irrigation, using recycled water is an environmentally responsible and cost-effective way to ensure our green spaces and our water supply.

SCWD wants to help maintain the lawns and parks our constituents cultivate, but without sacrificing our water supply. To help meet the needs of our communities, the District has developed a Recycled Water Supply with an efficient water treatment plant, pumping stations, storage tanks, and an extensive network of pipelines.

While wastewater from SCWD treatment plants meets all Federal requirements before being discharged into the ocean, this water can also be treated, filtered, and disinfected, as mandated by State health codes, to meet the irrigation needs of parks, golf courses, playgrounds, greenbelts and common areas of homeowners associations.

The District already provides recycled water to 175 customer accounts, including The Links at Monarch Beach, Niguel Shores Homeowners’ Association, the City of Dana Point, the City of Laguna Beach, the County of Orange and the Capistrano Unified School District.

Water recycling and reuse is a safe, reliable, and long term approach to water management. However, there are certain responsibilities that accompany recycled water use. Signs must be posted, valves and sprinkler heads must be marked, and recycled water pipes and devices are purple in color to distinguish them from drinking water devices.

The District provides training for all recycled water customers to ensure they are knowledgeable in the responsibilities of using recycled water and assists the County Health Department in conducting annual inspections to insure that all regulations are strictly followed.