San Diego County's Otay Water District is close to becoming a major reclaimed water customer. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has details.
The agency is using a $4 million state grant to help pay for a 30 inch pipe that'll deliver reclaimed water.
Reclaimed water is treated wastewater, but it doesn't meet drinking water standards. Otay Water District spokesman Armando Buelna says his agency hopes to buy, on average, about six million gallons of recycled water a day. He says the pipeline will be six miles long.
Grant: "It will convey water from the south bay reclamation plant located near the international border with Mexico to eastern Chula Vista where it will be used for irrigation water for many of the new developments that are taking place.
Buelna says the reclaimed water provides a hedge against future droughts by reducing the demand for potable water. He says up to half of all water used in the county ends up on people's lawns.
Erik Anderson KPBS News
