City of Oxnard, California, USA – Indirect potable reuse via in construction aquifer storage and recovery and existing non potable use for irrigation to local users
Oxnard initiated the Groundwater Recovery Enhancement and Treatment (GREAT) program to secure additional local water supplies, to prevent shortages in future. Beneficial reuse of locally available water:
- is independent of outside influences, such as the climate, water demands by other cities or regions, and judicial rulings.
- is dependable, locally controlled and beneficial to the environment.
- recycled water will decrease the city’s dependence on imported water and provide a reliable source of local water.
- it takes less energy to produce recycled water in Oxnard than to import water from Northern California.
Advanced Water Purification Facility
Oxnard constructed the advanced water purification facility in 2014.
This innovative facility uses highly developed purification processes to produce safe, clean water from treated wastewater. Water that is usually sent to the ocean, is further purified using microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and advanced oxidation with ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide. At this time, the high-quality recycled water is used for irrigation and industry.
Oxnard is constructing an Aquifer Storage and Recovery well test system which will inject recycled water from the Advanced Water Purification Facility into the local groundwater basin. After underground storage, the water can be pumped back out and blended with existing potable water supplies. Testing results from initial trials will be used to develop an operational and water treatment plan for future use as drinking water.