The $50m expansion of the Terminal Island Water Reclamation plant has just been completed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).

The Terminal Island Water Reclamation Plant was originally built in 1935 a screening facility to remove floatables and solids, with sewage receiving only primary treatment. Since then, the plant has undergone several improvements and upgrades; the 1972 upgrade ensured that all wastewater could undergo secondary treatment; in 1996 it was upgraded to include tertiary treatment level, and in 2003 it was upgraded to advanced treatment, allowing the plant to distribute recycled water for reuse in the Harbour area.

All of these upgrades were done in response to newer and more restrictive environmental regulations meant to protect the health of the harbour and ocean environments.

The project helped create the Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) which produces extensively treated, high-quality water which can be used as a potable water replacement in industrial and environmental applications, lessening the impact on imported drinking water from Northern California, the Eastern Sierra and the Colorado River while protecting water quality in local wells.

It is anticipated that the latest upgrades will double the plant’s capacity to recycle water from the current six million gallons, which will result in saving in excess of 12 million gallons of potable water every day.

LADWP chief operating officer Martin Adams said:

“The use of recycled water is crucial to LADWP’s local water supply strategy. Coupled with storm water capture, conservation and groundwater replenishment, recycled water is key to our growing city’s sustainable water future.

The expansion of the Terminal Island Water Treatment Plant will help us to reach more business and commercial customers with this valuable resource in the Harbour area.”

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said:

“This new facility is a bold investment that will help us save drinking water, expand our use of recycled water, and become a more sustainable city for generations to come.”

Additional water will be used to recharge the Dominguez Gap Barrier and help meet the mayor’s goal of converting 85% of Los Angeles’ golf course acreage to recycled water use.

Get bottled watercooler and mains fed water cooler from Living-Water.