Home | Background | EIR | Project Schedule | Reports & Documents | Public Participation |
Recycled Water | Beneficial Wetlands | Glossary | FAQs | Water Conservation | Contact Us

Water Recycling Expansion Program

Proposed Program Critical to Meeting Water Demand

The City is the Lead Agency for an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) being prepared for the Water Recycling Expansion Program, located within the City of Petaluma and nearby lands within Sonoma County. A Notice of Preparation has been prepared and is available at the Department of Water Resources and Conservation, 202 N. McDowell Blvd., and on the City's web site (see addresses below).

Program Description
The Water Recycling Expansion Program (WREP) consists of recycled water use for agricultural and urban uses within the Urban Growth Boundary of the City of Petaluma and unincorporated areas of Sonoma County south and east of the City. The WREP will include:

• Increasing Petaluma’s water recycling from about 700 to 1,000 million gallons (MG) per year;
• Use of tertiary recycled water from the new Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility;
• Irrigation of golf courses, parks, institutional uses, the new Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility, and agricultural uses;
• Distribution pipelines and associated appurtenances;
• Two 1.1-MG storage tanks for tertiary treated recycled water, in the hills east of Petaluma;
• A 0.5- to 1.0-MG open reservoir for secondary treated recycled water, southeast of Petaluma; and
• One or more new pump stations.

The goal of the WREP is to maximize Petaluma’s water resources by expanding the beneficial reuse of water in the City of Petaluma. By producing and using more recycled water, the City can leverage its already successful recycled water program to conserve a greater amount of drinking water, meet permit requirements, and keep drinking water in the reservoirs.

The project will occur in phases starting in 2008 and continuing as demand dictates. The EIR will evaluate near-term improvements (the two storage tanks and about 2 miles of pipeline) at a detailed project-level; the remainder of the improvements and the use of recycled water will be evaluated at a program-level.

Program Goal
The goal of the Water Recycling Expansion Program is to maximize Petaluma’s water resources by expanding the beneficial reuse of water in the City of Petaluma in a reliable and feasible manner, while maintaining sensitivity to public health, the environment and costs. By producing and using more recycled water for irrigation purposes, the City can leverage its already successful recycled water program by conserving a greater amount of drinking water, meeting permit requirements, and keeping drinking water in the reservoirs.

Program Objectives
The City of Petaluma’s Water Recycling Expansion Program is intended to achieve the following objectives:

• To enhance the water supply by providing recycled water for non-potable uses to create a new source of water that is sustainable, drought proof, and readily available within the City of Petaluma.
• To manage secondary and tertiary recycled water effectively and therefore remain in compliance with regulatory permit requirements during the period of restricted discharge to the Petaluma River (May 1 through October 20).
• To meet regulatory requirements for reuse of approximately 1000 million gallons of water through a flexible, economical program that provides water application locations in a drought or wet year making the program ecologically sustainable.
• To provide a comprehensive, phased program to construct, improve and expand the facilities, conveyance systems and irrigation systems necessary for the distribution of recycled water to meet user demands as population build out occurs.
• To provide approximately 6.7 million gallons per day (mgd) of tertiary recycled water for a wide variety of irrigation reuse applications where the City is currently supplying potable water, secondary recycled water, or for new users.  Tertiary uses include irrigation of pasture, edible crops, vineyard, golf courses, play fields, parks, Ellis Creek WRF process water, Ellis Creek WRF fire water, Ellis Creek WRF irrigation water, school yards, open spaces and areas of landscaping throughout the City of Petaluma.  Application will be in compliance with regulations.
• Recycled water alone will not meet demand requirements.  Water Conservation programs will also augment supply and reduce wastewater flows as described in the Water Conservation Plan.