West Basin Announces Completion Of Recycled Water Pump Station Improvements Project

Infrastructure investment provides the service area with a continuous flow of local, recycled water that increases reliability and decreases dependence on imported supply

The West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) recently announced its recycled water Pump Station Improvements Project, which will enhance local water supply and sustainability, is now complete. The project, part of the District’s ongoing Capital Improvement Program, demonstrates an investment in critical local infrastructure that helps provide the service area with drought-resilient, recycled water.

The nearly $18M project includes the construction of a new pump station and the installation of a three megawatt emergency generator at the most critical component of the District’s world renowned water recycling program. The District-owned assets, located at the City of Los Angeles’ Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant in Playa Del Rey, are essential for delivering water to the West Basin Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility (ECLWRF) in El Segundo and to the recycled water system at large. More than 40 million gallons a day (MGD) of treated sewer water, which would otherwise be discharged to the ocean, is conveyed from the pump station to the ECLWRF for additional treatment and distribution across West Basin’s service area.

“Forward thinking investments in West Basin’s infrastructure allow the District to serve its recycled water customers and communities with a continuous flow of locally produced recycled water,” said West Basin Board President Scott Houston. “These strategic improvements reinforce West Basin’s ongoing efforts to diversify our local water supply portfolio and offset the use of imported drinking water with recycled water in order to prepare the District for the needs of tomorrow.”

Additionally, with a Project Labor Agreement in place, the enhancements provided over 30,000 hours for union labor contractors. The project’s workforce consisted of roughly 20 percent local hires and about 45 percent apprentices, which in turn provided on-the-job training and employment for residents of the West Basin service area among others.

The new stand-alone pump station is located directly north of the existing pump station, which was built in 1994 at the start of the District’s recycled water program, and the new emergency generator provides an uninterrupted source of power in the event of power supply outages. Together, these upgrades help West Basin operations to eliminate maintenance matters that may interrupt West Basin’s recycled water supply. The improvement project also assists the District in increasing production capacity to 70 MGD as downstream demand continues to grow.

About West Basin Municipal Water District
West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) is a wholesale water agency that serves nearly one million people in 17 cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County. West Basin provides imported drinking water, recycled water, as well as conservation and education programs. Through its Water for Tomorrow Program, West Basin is committed to protecting, diversifying, and securing our water supply for the future while continuing a history of innovation and industry leadership. For more information, visit www.westbasin.org.