Oceanside awarded federal funding for water recycling, desalination project

By SDCN Editor

Oceanside, CA–The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded the City of Oceanside $201,000 for the city’s Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Project. 

The city received the award after applying for WaterSMART funding to investigate expanding water reuse and increasing water recharge.

This is the first funding award Oceanside has received from the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation WaterSmart program for Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Funding. The $201,000 will be used to evaluate the expanded use of treated effluent at the San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility to produce recycled water; and the expansion of the Advanced Water Purification Facility for groundwater recharge and higher quality recycled water and seawater desalination.

The WaterSMART will fund a study to support the city’s ongoing efforts to develop a new, local, reliable water source that has greater resilience to drought, regulatory conservation measures, and climate change. The study will allow the city to prioritize and plan infrastructure projects to gain greater water independence as they advance towards the city council’s goal of a 50% local water supply by 2023.

“The City of Oceanside is focused on water reliability by ensuring resources are used efficiently and sustainably,” said Lindsay Leahy, Water Utilities Director. “Expanding water reuse and groundwater recharge will provide our community with local, reliable, and drought-resistant supplies well into the future.”

The WaterSMART Program, administered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, provides water and energy efficiency grants to water districts and communities to modernize water delivery infrastructure and increase hydropower generation. The grants will enable communities to conserve and use water more efficiently and contribute to water supply reliability in the western United States.

“Oceanside has been at the forefront of water conservation efforts since the early 1990s,” said Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49). “As we confront climate challenges and the persistence of drought conditions, the City of Oceanside’s water recycling and desalination planning project is critically important to preserve water and ensure residents have reliable water sources. I congratulate the City of Oceanside on receiving this important federal grant, and I look forward to a continued partnership that advances the city’s infrastructure projects.”

To learn more about Oceanside, water recycling, and desalination planning, visit www.oceansideca.org.