California’s economic prosperity and the quality of life enjoyed by its citizens depends a great deal on reliable water supplies. Increasing population growth and diminishing opportunities to find and develop potable water supplies caused the state legislature to enact the Water Recycling Act of 1991, acknowledging the importance of recycled water as a component of the state’s water supply mix.

Recycled water is municipal wastewater that receives a complement of biological, physical and chemical treatments, beyond the normal secondary level for wastewater treatment. Recycled water has a host of non-potable uses in southern Orange County, including landscape irrigation, industrial process, dust control, cooling water augmentation and commercial toilet flushing.

SOCWA is the general permit holder for water reclamation activities in most of southern Orange County. Waste Discharge Permit Orders 97-52 and 94-03 were issued through the San Diego Regional Board and Santa Ana Regional Board, respectively. Both permits regulate the water quality specifications of SOCWA’s reclamation facilities, for constituents like TDS, coliform, turbidity and iron.
In addition, SOCWA has developed Best Management Practices for users of recycled water.

• Recycled water provides a reliable local water supply, which is a hedge against future droughts and uncertainty with traditional water supplies.
  
  
• Recycled water contains higher levels of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, which can provide fertilizer benefits to crops and landscape vegetation.
  
  
• By recycling water, the quantity of treated wastewater discharging to the environment, is decreased.
  
  
  Recycled water provides many benefits for golf courses.