INDIRECT REUSE - AQUIFER RECHARGE METHODS TO OPTIMIZE CAPACITY IN URBAN AND NON-URBAN AREAS

摘要

Helix Water District (HWD) and Padre Dam Municipal Water District (PDMWD) are located in southern California and are working together to develop indirect potable reuse projects which utilize highly purified water to recharge different portions of the El Monte/Santee Basin aquifer for ultimate use as a raw water source for drinking water. Helix Water District owns land where their recharge project, the El Monte Valley Mining, Reclamation, and Groundwater Recharge Project (El Monte Valley Project) is proposed with current land use being vacant and zoned for extractive use (sand mining). The Santee Basin Aquifer Recharge Project (Santee Project) being developed by PDMWD is not owned by PDMWD but by multiple owners in a highly developed (urbanized) area. This paper presents considerations made with regard to application method (injection versus infiltration basins) and approaches to blending ratios to gain regulatory approval. The paper will also address political, environmental, and public outreach issues for developing projects in basins with different overlying land uses.