The following are frequently asked questions about the proposed Harding Park Recycled Water Project and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) Recycled Water Program.
PROPOSED HARDING PARK RECYCLED WATER PROJECT QUESTIONS
RECYCLED WATER PROGRAM QUESTIONS
- What is recycled water?
- Is recycled water safe?
- How long has recycled water been in use?
- Where is recycled water used locally?
- What is the SFPUC doing to make sure the recycled water is always safe?
- How do I get more information on the SFPUC’s Recycled Water Program?
Water is too precious a resource to use just once. Recycled water offers new water source for non-drinking purposes. Recycled water provides a drought-proof and sustainable water source for non-potable uses such as landscape irrigation. Daly City and the SFPUC have partnered to develop and implement the proposed Harding Park Recycled Water Project to supply recycled water to irrigate Harding Park and Fleming Golf Courses. Currently, drinking water is used to irrigate these locations. The proposed project would replace drinking water with recycled water for irrigation purposes.
back to top Where will recycled water be produced?
The North San Mateo County Sanitation District (NSMCSD), a subsidiary of Daly City, constructed facilities at its wastewater treatment plant to produce recycled water. The plant currently produces highly-treated tertiary recycled water that is used for irrigation purposes at the Lake Merced Golf Club, the Olympic Club, and the San Francisco Golf Club, as well as other landscaped areas in Daly City. The recycled water produced at the NSMCSD plant meets the California Department of Public Health requirements for “unrestricted use”.
How will recycled water be used?
The proposed Harding Park Recycled Water Project would deliver highly-treated tertiary recycled water for irrigation use through a system that includes a pipeline, pump station, and underground storage tank. The system would deliver recycled water currently produced at the NSMCSD plant located in
back to top
What is recycled water?
Recycled water is highly treated wastewater that has been purified through multiple levels of treatment to meet the stringent health standards set by the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Hundreds of communities throughout California are using recycled water. Approved and common uses include:
- Irrigation of parks and playgrounds, golf courses, freeway landscaping and residential common areas
- Commercial toilet and urinal flushing
- Industrial processing
- Industrial and commercial cooling or air-conditioning
- Commercial laundries
- Decorative fountains
- Lake recharge
- Wetlands projects
Yes. Recycled water must meet stringent regulatory requirements established by the State Department of Public Health, and be treated to the State of California Title 22 standards. Wastewater is treated to these rigid standards to ensure that public health and environmental quality are protected. Recycled water is required to be monitored and tested daily to ensure that it consistently meets these high quality standards.
How long has recycled water been in use?
Recycled water systems have been operating in California and throughout the nation since the early 1960’s. Recycled water is used in more than 1,600 individual parks, playgrounds or schoolyard sites throughout the United States. For over 40 years, agriculture has had success using recycled water for irrigating a variety of crops including hay, pasture grasses, vegetables, wine grapes, and turf.
Where is recycled water used locally?
More than 1,600 sites in 11 states are using recycled water, including 160 cities in California. Recycled water is currently being used throughout the Bay Area in many communities, including Daly City, Oakland, Alameda, Santa Rosa, Windsor, Palo Alto, Santa Clara and San Jose.
What is the SFPUC doing to make sure the recycled water is always safe?
Recycled water quality would be monitored by treatment plant personnel daily to ensure that rigid water quality standards are continually met. Water testing takes place throughout the treatment process. Water quality testing results are reported to, and monitored by, regulatory officials including the California Department of Public Health and the Regional Water Quality Control Board, to ensure high quality standards are met. Additionally, proper use of recycled water for the SFPUC’s Recycled Water Program will be ensured through implementation of Best Management Practices, appropriate signage and markings, cross-connection testing, and control of overspray and runoff at irrigation sites.
How do I get more information on the SFPUC’s Recycled Water Program?
For more information on the Recycled Water Program, contact Suzanne Gautier (SFPUC Communications) at sgautier@sfwater.org, or call 415-554-3204.
