Recycled water on tap for OMWD customers

The Olivenhain Municipal Water District hosted a grand opening celebration Sept. 9 for its new recycled water fill station in 4S Ranch, at Campania Avenue and Camino San Thomas in San Diego.

The recycled water fill station provides free recycled water to any OMWD residential customer who has undergone a brief certification process. This resource can be used for non-potable water landscape irrigation applications such as watering ornamental gardens, vegetables, and trees, and can help conserve potable water during the drought.

The fill station — first of its kind in San Diego County — is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Our goal is to assist customers by providing them with new methods to reduce potable water use at their homes, and we strongly believe that this resource will help conservation practices while positively contributing to our drought response,” said Kimberly Thorner, OMWD’s general manager. “We are excited to be the first agency in San Diego County to provide residential customers with recycled water for irrigation purposes.”

“This drought has required us to think creatively about ways to reduce our consumption,” said Ed Sprague, president of OMWD’s board of directors. “This refill station provides our customers with a means of utilizing a limited resource in a practical, convenient manner.”

The recycled water fill station is slated to be open through February in conjunction with the State Water Resources Control Board’s emergency water conservation order. However, if it’s successful, the district may explore offering the service on a longer-term basis.

Recycled water is wastewater that has been purified and disinfected to meet strict water quality standards. Using recycled water for non-potable purposes will assist customers in complying with statewide water use restrictions, and while statewide emergency drought regulations remain in effect, the fill station will be temporarily offered to customers.

Also, this refined resource is a renewable and locally produced water source, therefore it is not subject to water use restrictions.

For information, visit www.olivenhain.com/fillstation.