Moulton Niguel Water District, California, USA – Planned pilot, aiming to be the first Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) advanced water treatment project in Orange County
In response to South Orange County’s heavy reliance on imported water from the Colorado River and Northern California, Moulton Niguel Water District (MNWD) is embarking on a visionary initiative to address ongoing water supply challenges. The OASIS Water Resource Center’s vision is to create a sustainable and resilient water future for the region. OASIS, an acronym for Optimized, Adaptive, Sustainable, and Integrated Supply, captures the project’s core goals. The OASIS Water Resource Center includes:
- New Drinking Water Source: Implementing direct potable reuse of wastewater to produce a reliable and locally sourced drinking water supply.
- Runoff Diversion: Capturing dry weather runoff and small storm events from the Aliso Creek watershed to create an additional source for non-potable reuse.
- Watershed Improvements: Enhancing water quality and contributing to the restoration of the creek. This includes measures for habitat improvement and infrastructure protection to benefit the watershed and beach ecosystems.
- Watershed Education Center: Establishing a dedicated center for watershed education. This facility will serve as a community outreach and education hub, raising awareness about the project’s water supply and the broader watershed benefits.
- Outreach and Partnerships: Engaging in outreach initiatives and forming partnerships to ensure success and widespread impact of the project.
By commencing planning studies in 2024, this initiative aims to provide our community with a drought-resistant, local water supply. This not only increases operational flexibility for MNWD, but also reduces dependence on imported water sources facing drought conditions. Furthermore, the project contributes to environmental conservation by minimising discharges of treated wastewater and urban runoff into the ocean and Aliso Creek.
The OASIS Water Resource Center represents a holistic approach to water management, ensuring a sustainable and resilient water future for South Orange County. Together, we can create a lasting impact on water supply, environmental health, and community education.
OASIS Water Resource Center is planned to be a 3-5 MGD plant that would represent 15-25% of our water supply portfolio. Recycled water for irrigation already represents over 20% of the District’s water supply portfolio.