Engineering Contract Award Moves Southern California Water Project Another Step Forward

The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) announced recently the award of a $4.8 million contract for development work on a proposed water purification project in Southern California involving both authorities. Known as the Groundwater Replenishment (GWR) System, it is estimated to cost between $350-400 million by the time it is completed in 2020. This development phase contract is the largest of its kind to date awarded by the OCWD.

Its ultimate goal is to provide up to 200,000 Orange County families with a new source of drinking water, and its treatment facilities will be located in Fountain Valley on the water campus occupied jointly by the OCWD and the OCSD. The need for new sources of water is clear. As the region develops and experiences continuing population growth, the existing water supplies will not be able to keep up with demand.

Defining the Scope of Work
An engineering and scientific team led by Boston-based Camp Dresser McKee Inc. (CDM) from the firm's Irvine, California, office will handle the development phase of the GWR project. The engineering team also includes Brown and Caldwell and ASL Engineering, both located in Irvine, California.

The concept of the Groundwater Replenishment System is to take treated wastewater of high quality from OCSD facilities and purify it further with advanced processes. This wastewater currently is discharged to the ocean. Microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection will be used to process the incoming wastewater feed to quality standards that will surpass all anticipated drinking water regulatory requirements. Projected volume is 100,000 acre-feet per year. A portion of the purified output will then be naturally percolated into Orange County's large underground water basin where it is predicted to actually improve the quality of the groundwater in the aquifer. This injection of treated water also should help protect the aquifer from seawater intrusion. The remainder of the processed water will be used in irrigation and industrial applications.

The area of Orange County to be serviced by the Groundwater Replenishment System is located on top of a major aquifer and is bordered on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean.

The scope of work to be carried out by CDM includes determining the location of wells and pipelines so that right-of-ways and permits can be secured; determining power issues, so that power purchase contracts can be negotiated; refining cost data; preparing material and construction specifications; and preparing building renderings. The firm also will handle the preliminary design of seawater intrusion barrier wells and facilities, the advanced-technology water treatment processes, pumping facilities, and a pipeline along the Santa Ana River.

Many Steps Taken to Arrive at this Stage
As in all major environmental projects similar to Orange County's GRS, many steps had to be taken before a design/development contract could be awarded. One of these was undertaking an environmental impact study. Last March the joint boards of the OCWD and the OCSD approved certification of the environmental impact report (EIR) prepared for the proposed project. The 25-member sanitation district board and the 10-member water district board voted unanimously on four resolutions certifying the GRS.

The EIR analyzed the proposed system for all significant environmental issues, including: land use, geology, water resources, noise, public service impact, air quality, general hazards, and biological, cultural and energy resources. The report found no significant negative effects beyond temporary construction activities, which would be mitigated.

The Orange County project had been included in the Clinton Administration's proposed budget for water projects, which was released last February. The budget recommendation was for $1.5 million toward the design/development costs of the GRS.

Almost at the same time as the engineering contract award was made, in Washington, D.C. the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water approved federal funds for several local water and flood control projects, including the $1.5 million for this first development phase of Orange County's new water purification scheme.

The Orange County Water District was created as a special agency by the California Legislature in 1933 to maintain and manage the huge groundwater basin under the northern and central parts of the county. This resource supplies 75% of the water needs to more than 2 million residents in Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington and Newport Beach, Irvine, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.

Edited by Ian Lisk, Editor Emeritus