Did you know that only one percent of treated water piped to houses and businesses is actually consumed?  The vast majority of it goes to irrigating lawns, crops and industrial uses.  Some of the water coming out of your tap has traveled many hundreds of miles, aided by large electric pumps to grace your presence for a sweet second before exiting through your drain.  Climate change, decreases in diversions from the San Francisco Bay Delta and the Colorado River, and population growth are all threatening southern California’s water supplies, so Central Basin along with several other water agencies are doing their part to increase the use of recycled water.

Read the rest of this entry »

At a time when the nation’s unemployment rate is rising, the Southeast Water Reliability Project (SWRP) is putting people back to work. An article in today’s Los Angeles Times reported that the jobless rate rose to 9.8% during the month of November.

During such hard-hitting economic times, SWRP is creating nearly 300 local jobs, providing $2 million in local tax revenue and increasing local business revenue by $49 million.

For more information about the positive economic impact the project will bring to the community, check out the report done by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation here.

Read the rest of this entry »

Progress continues for the Southeast Water Reliability Project (SWRP). 

Connecting recycled water between the cities of Montebello and Pico Rivera, a portion of the 30-inch pipeline was constructed to hang along the underside of the Rio Hondo Bridge.

In order to allow for movement from potential seismic activity, installation of expansion joints at each end will allow for up to 12-inches of  movement - a safety feature that can also help prevent damage to the pipeline and the bridge.

Read the rest of this entry »

BEFORE: A receiving pit on Beverly Blvd in Pico Rivera

AFTER: Moving right along! The same receiving pit, all cleaned up!

To stay on schedule with our Southeast Water Reliability Project, our construction crews will be laying 10,000 feet of recycled water pipeline before the end of July. The entire Phase 1 alignment is 25,000 feet of pipeline. If you take into account construction done earlier this year (we broke ground in January 2010), Phase 1 of our recycled water expansion project is 40% complete!

Read the rest of this entry »