Non-Potable Water Project
Pasadena's 2011 Water Integrated Resources Plan established a long term strategy to meet current and future water needs. This plan calls for developing alternative sources of water to meet Pasadena’s annual water demands.
Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) plans to enhance the water supply reliability by developing the Non-Potable Water Project. The project will offset up to 10% of the total water consumed by PWP customers by delivering recycled water and other untapped non-potable water sources for landscape irrigation and industrial uses in the future. View Fact Sheet Here.
Alternative Routes Evaluation Reports
In February of 2016, City Council certified the Environmental Impact Report for the Non-Potable Water Project. During the public hearing, PWP received feedback from residents with concerns about impacts during project construction, and was asked to explore two alternative pipeline routes. PWP has thoroughly examined the alternative routes and has several reports that detail the findings on the impacts of the proposed route vs. the alternative routes.
Learn more here and access the Alternative Routes Evaluation Reports.
Alternative Routes Evaluation Reports Community Meetings
PWP held two community meetings to share the findings of the Alternative Routes Evaluation Reports [3.6.1.1] and to seek input. See below for presentation info:
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Pipeline Route Discussed: Linda Vista Ave., Laurel St., and Parkview Ave. or (alternative route) Salvia Canyon and West Dr.
PowerPoint Presentation
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Pipeline Route Discussed: Arroyo Blvd. and Rose Bowl Dr. or (alternative route) Rosemont Ave.
Click Here for PowerPoint Presentation PowerPoint Presentation
Grant Funding Update
In December 2015, PWP submitted applications for grant and loan funding under the State Water Resources Control Board (“SWRCB”) Proposition 1 and Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and Title XVI under the United States Bureau of Reclamation (“USBR”). The state application is still under review pending approval of the wastewater change petition filed by the City of Glendale. SWRCB will not complete the review of PWP application until the petition is approved.
In May 2017 USBR notified PWP that Phase I project is eligible for $2 million in federal funds for planning, design, environmental and construction work. The funding agreement will be executed in September 2017.
Project Background
The Pasadena Non-Potable Water Project is formerly known as the Recycled Water Project. Since 1993, the City of Pasadena has an agreement with the City of Glendale to provide up to 6,000 acre-feet of recycled water annually to Pasadena from the Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant. Recycled water is tertiary treated through a three-step process imitating nature’s own cleaning processes. The Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant processes 20 million gallons of recycled water each day! The water produced is shared between the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the City of Glendale as cooling water by the Glendale Steam Power Plant and for irrigation at Griffith Park,in freeway landscaping, local cemeteries, at nearby schools, playgrounds, parks and golf courses, for flushing toilets, for filling decorative fountains and other recreational uses.
PWP is developing plans to construct a new distribution system to deliver non-potable water from the Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant to the City of Pasadena. Phase 1 of the proposed Pasadena Non-Potable Water Project includes connections to four customers with large irrigation and cooling demands: Art Center College of Design, Brookside Golf Course, Rose Bowl Stadium, and Brookside Park. Phase 2 will include the City’s Glenarm Power Plant which will use the water for cooling and processes in place of potable water, saving millions of gallons of water annually.
The proposed Project could provide more than 3,000 AF of non-potable water annually for citywide non-potable water use, meeting nearly 10% of the City’s total water demand. One acre-foot of water is approximately 326,000 gallons.
Project Timeline
Below is the tentative schedule for the Non-Potable Water Project:
2012 – Recycled Water Planning Study
2014 – Notice of Preparation
- The Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report was released on August 28 to seek public input on its scope and content.
- PWP held Public Scoping Meetings on September 6 and September 10 at Brookside Golf Club.
2015 – Environmental Impact Report
2016 – Environmental Impact Report Certified on February 22, 2016
2015 – 2018 – Complete Design, Obtain Funding and Permits
2018 – 2020 – Construction of Phase 1
Recycled Water Standards and Uses
The recycled water that is available to the City of Pasadena is categorized as “Disinfected Tertiary Recycled Water.” This water has undergone treatment for a wide range of contaminates and is filtered and disinfected prior to the water being distributed for non-potable uses.
The City of Pasadena plans to use the recycled water blended with two other local water sources for landscape irrigation of schools, parks, golf courses, freeway medians, hospitals, stadiums, cemeteries, and libraries. Recycled water will also be used for industrials cooling by the largest water customers such as Art Center College of Design, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Glenarm Power Plant, Caltech, Pasadena City College, and JPL.
The State of California encourages the use of high-quality recycled water. More information about recycled water use rules and regulations can be found at: State Water Resources Control Board
Certified - Environmental Impact Report
Final Environmental Impact Report – certified February 2016 (Download PDF)
Public Draft EIR – Pasadena Non-Potable Water Project, June 2015 (Download PDF)
