CC SR 20211005 02 - West Basin
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 10/05/2021
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive a presentation on recycled water from the
West Basin Municipal Water District.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file a recycled water presentation from the West Basin Municipal
Water District.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Ron Dragoo, PE, Principal Engineer
REVIEWED BY: Ramzi Awwad, Director of Public Works
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
none
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
In October 2019, the City Council asked Staff to arrange for a presentation by the West
Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) on their latest efforts in evaluating recycled
water uses on the Peninsula and the South Bay.
West Basin is a wholesale water agency that provides imported drinking water to 17 ,
mostly South Bay, cities from Malibu to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. West Basin also
produces up to 40 million gallons of recycled water daily from the Edward C. Little
Recycling Facility in the City of El Segundo, which is then used by refineries, schools,
parks, golf courses and the West Coast Basin Seawater Barrier.
Staff met with West Basin to learn about the possibility of bringing recycled water to the
City for irrigation at City parks and medians, as well as commercial enterprises such as
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CITYOF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
golf courses. Bringing recycled water to the City would require a major capital project that
would extend a water pipe system (commonly called purple pipe) to carry recycled water
to its end users in the City. The project would involve the following major steps:
• The purple pipe would need to be extended from its current terminus in Torrance.
The actual alignment would be determined through a feasibility study which would
establish alternatives, determine possible environmental impacts, and identify high
demand recycled water customers along the coastline.
• Funding for the feasibility study, environmental clearance, project design,
easements in which to place the pipe, and construction is needed and currently
estimated to be in the high tens of millions of dollars.
• Funding could come from a combination of sources including grant funds, loans,
and end customer/user contributions.
• Funding would have to be approved by the West Basin’s Board.
• Construction could start within the next decade, or sooner, depending on
stakeholder approvals and funding timelines.
Tonight, West Basin staff will provide an overview of their water recycling program, plans
for the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the South Bay, and be available for questions.
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