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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPipeline 04 - Fall 2017T H E O TAY WATER DISTRICT • P R OUDLY SERVING E A ST C OUNT Y A ND TH E S OUTH B AY SINC E 1956 A NE W SLET TE R FOR CUSTOMER S OF T HE OTAY WATER DISTRICT The Pipeline Newsletter is published quarterly by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at www.otaywater.gov. Copyright © 2017 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. FALL 2017 FOLLOW OTAY WATER ON... / SIGA AL DISTRITO DE AGUA DE OTAY EN... Recuperamos y reciclamos nuestro recurso más valioso En la actualidad, el Distrito de Agua de Otay opera uno de los sistemas de distribución de agua reciclada más grande del condado de San Diego. La Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales Ralph W. Chapman en Rancho San Diego puede llegar a producir hasta 1.3 millones de galones de agua reciclada por día. Esta agua se utiliza para irrigar parte del este de Chula Vista, incluyendo Eastlake, Rancho Del Rey y Otay Ranch. El uso de agua reciclada para el riego de jardines y procesos industriales reduce la demanda de agua potable importada, proporciona un suministro de agua local a prueba de sequía, y diversifica los recursos del distrito. El agua reciclada también se puede utilizar para el riego de áreas verdes y agrícolas; llenado de lagos artificiales; y usos industriales y comerciales apropiados. La planta Chapman trata las aguas residuales residenciales y de negocios en el área de servicio del distrito y las convierte en agua limpia para fines de irrigación. Las aguas residuales son casi el 95 por ciento del agua. Las aguas negras crudas pasan por un tratamiento avanzado que incluye el tratamiento primario, secundario y terciario. La planta bombea el agua a diferentes tanques para ser tratada a un nivel terciario mediante el sistema de filtrado y cloración. La razón por la cual el agua reciclada para riego pasa por el nivel más alto de tratamiento es para cumplir con el Código de Normas de California, título 22. Posteriormente, se combina el lodo de aguas residuales. El excedente de aguas residuales no tratadas es bombeado al Sistema Metropolitano de Aguas Residuales de San Diego. La planta Chapman tiene un laboratorio certificado por el Programa de Acreditación de Laboratorios de Defensa Ambiental (ELAP, por sus siglas en inglés) donde el distrito realiza pruebas al agua reciclada y potable. Para minimizar o evitar los derrames, el distrito supervisa y da mantenimiento a las tuberías de alcantarillado para que permanezcan en buenas condiciones. El distrito tiene cámaras de video que se desplazan con regularidad a lo largo de la tubería para detectar si existe algún deterioro o alguna fuga. Un camión Vactor sistemáticamente va a los puntos críticos para limpiar las grasas y aceites. La historia de Otay en el tema del reciclaje de agua se remonta a principios de la década de 1960 cuando el ex director Ralph W. Chapman reconoció por primera vez el agua reciclada como un suministro a largo plazo y de bajo costo. El distrito comenzó su primer proyecto de agua reciclada a finales de la década de 1960 con una instalación de una planta a pequeña escala llamada Miss Stinky. En aquellos tiempos, Otay solo tenía unos pocos clientes de agua reciclada. En 1980, Otay decidió abrir la Planta Chapman para tratar las aguas residuales de Calavo Gardens y Rancho San Diego a un nivel más alto, y proveer agua reciclada para el riego de diversas áreas en el este de Chula Vista. A mediados de la década de 1990, la ciudad de Chula Vista y el Distrito de Agua de Otay comenzaron a solicitar el uso de tuberías duales. El primer conjunto de tuberías suministraría agua potable y el segundo conjunto entregaría agua reciclada para el riego de parques, campos de golf y béisbol, zonas verdes y áreas comunes de las nuevas comunidades crecientes del este de Chula Vista. Además, a partir del año 2007, la Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales Chapman del distrito se complementó con agua reciclada proveniente de la Planta de Aguas Residuales del Sur de la Bahía perteneciente a la ciudad de San Diego. En la actualidad, el distrito continúa comprando hasta 6 millones de galones por día de agua reciclada de la planta de la ciudad. El distrito continúa aumentando el uso de agua reciclada en sus servicios para reducir la demanda general de agua potable. Para obtener información acerca del agua reciclada o la planta, por favor visite otaywater.gov/about-otay/water-information/ reclamation-water. Reclaiming Our Most Valuable Resource and Recycling It Otay Water District currently operates one of the largest recycled water distribution systems in San Diego County. The Ralph W. Chapman Water Recycling Facility in Rancho San Diego is capable of producing up to 1.3 million gallons per day of recycled water that is used to irrigate parts of Eastern Chula Vista, including Eastlake, Rancho Del Rey, and Otay Ranch. The use of recycled water for landscape irrigation and industrial processes minimizes the demand for imported potable (drinking) water, provides a local supply that is drought proof, and diversifies the District’s sources. Recycled water can also be used for irrigation of greenbelt and agricultural areas, filling of artificial lakes, and appropriate industrial and commercial uses. The Chapman facility treats residential and business sewage in the District’s service area, and turns it into clean water for irrigation purposes. Sewage is about 95 percent water. Raw sewage goes through an advanced treatment process, which includes primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment. The plant pumps the water into several tanks to be treated to a tertiary level using filtration and chlorine. Reclaimed water for irrigation purposes must meet the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, which is why it goes through this higher level of treatment. The plant then combines the sewage sludge, and excess non-treated wastewater is pumped to the City of San Diego’s Metropolitan Wastewater System. The Chapman facility has an Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) certified laboratory where the District’s recycled and potable water are tested. To minimize or avoid spills, the District monitors and maintains its sewer pipes so they remain in good condition. The District has video cameras that regularly run the length of the pipe to check for where they may be deteriorating or leaking. A special vehicle, called a Vactor truck, routinely goes to the “hot spots” to clean fats, oils, and grease. Otay’s history in recycling water goes back to the early 1960s, when former Director Ralph W. Chapman first recognized recycled water as a low-cost, long-term supply of water. The District began its first recycled water project in the late 1960s with a small packaged facility, called Miss Stinky. At this time, Otay had few customers for recycled water. In 1980, Otay dedicated a larger facility — the Ralph W. Chapman Water Recycling Facility — to treat sewage at a high level from Calavo Gardens and Rancho San Diego and provide recycled water to irrigate areas in Eastern Chula Vista. By the mid-1990s, the City of Chula Vista and Otay Water District jointly began requiring dual piping. One set of pipes would supply potable water, while a second set would deliver recycled water to irrigate parks, golf courses, ball fields, parkways, and common areas in the new growing communities in the eastern part of Chula Vista. Additionally, by 2007, recycled water from the District’s Chapman Treatment Plant was supplemented with recycled water from the City of San Diego’s South Bay Water Reclamation Plant. Today, the District continues purchasing up to 6 million gallons per day of recycled water from the city’s plant. The District continues to increase the use of recycled water in its service to minimize overall demand for potable water. For details on recycled water or the plant, visit otaywater.gov/about-otay/water- information/reclamation-water. OTAY WATER DISTRICT – Board of Directors The Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. in the Board meeting room. The public is encouraged to attend at 2554 Sweetwater Springs Boulevard, Spring Valley, CA. President Mark Robak, Division 5 mrobak@otaywater.gov Vice President Tim Smith, Division 1 tsmith@otaywater.gov Treasurer Mitch Thompson, Division 2 mthompson@otaywater.gov Board Member Gary Croucher, Division 3 gcroucher@otaywater.gov Board Member Hector Gastelum, Division 4 hector@otaywater.gov Nan Sterman’sPlant Soup Inc. Nan Sterman is a garden expert, author, designer, and educator. Nan leads international garden tours and hosts the show A Growing Passion on KPBS TV. www.plantsoup.com For additional classes or events, visit thegarden.org Free Docent-Led ToursSaturdays, 10 a.m. Be inspired to create a water-wise landscape of your own while enjoying an informative walk through the Garden with a docent tour guide. Visit thegarden.org for special themed tours. Professional Landscape Design Consultations The Garden offers 45-minute landscape consultations for residents looking to make changes to their landscape with water-wise plants. Call (619) 660-0614 ext. 10 to schedule. Cost: $60 for members; $75 for nonmembers. Ms. Smarty-Plants School Tours and Assembly Program Become a Ms. Smarty-Plants Earth Hero. Join Ms. Smarty-Plants as she takes you on a magical, fun, and interactive journey through plant adaptations, the water cycle, conservation, and more. To book an educational tour of the Garden or a school assembly program, call (619) 660-0614 ext. 16. Gardens Aglow — Dec. 7-9 and 14-16, 6 to 8 p.m. Bring your family and friends to see the Garden as you have never seen it before! Enjoy holiday treats and refreshments as you stroll along gardens aglow with holiday lights. Register at thegarden.org. Cost: $5 for adults and children ages 12 and over; $3 for kids ages 3-11; free for members and kids ages 2 and under. Free parking. ONGOING EVENTS SEASONAL EVENTS Benefits of Harvesting Rainwater Collecting and reusing the little rain we often get in our region can go a long way. That is why water harvesting has become a supplemental water source for many homeowners. Water harvesting means capturing the rainwater where it falls to store for later use and eventually have it recharge into the ground. One practical and popular way of harvesting water is using a rain barrel, tank, or cistern to catch runoff from the roof when it rains. A major benefit of harvesting water is that it is free from pollutants and other man-made contaminants. Some other benefits include: • Reduces Your Water Bill: Rainwater is free! It can be used for nearly all cleaning needs, including flushing toilets, irrigating, bathing pets, and washing clothes and cars. • Suitable for Irrigation: Plant growth may improve because rainwater is free from salts, minerals, and chemicals. Your plants and trees can grow healthy and overall save you money on maintenance and landscaping needs. • Reduces Runoff: Runoff can cause low-lying areas to flood and soil to erode. Water harvesting can reduce the contamination of surface water and pollution of our watershed and ocean. • Gives You Money: Otay customers can get a $35 rebate on a rain barrel (maximum of 2) or up to $350 for a cistern, depending on capacity. For more information on rebates, visit otaywater.gov. Inspiring Students to Become Earth Heroes “What is an Earth Hero?” you ask. Earth heroes recycle, care for animals, pick up trash, save water, and more. The Otay Water District invites students living in the District’s service area to learn what it takes to become an Earth Hero. The Water Conservation Garden’s Ms. Smarty-Plants or Señorita Plantasia offers kindergarten through 6th-grade programs that are consistent with California State Standards, E-STEM, and Next Generation Science Standards. The District provides students attending schools in the District’s service area with the opportunity to visit Ms. Smarty-Plants through a field trip to the Water Conservation Garden or have her visit their school through a school- assembly program. Ms. Smarty-Plants combines education, music, and Spanish to inspire students to use critical thinking when saving water and caring for the planet. If you are a teacher or student in the District’s service area, or you know a teacher or a student in the District’s service area, more information about these award-winning programs can be found at mssmartyplants.org or by calling (619) 660-0614 x16. Ms. Smarty Plants is a lifelong educator with over 30 years teaching experience. Keep Grease Out of Your Sink This Holiday Season! When cooking your favorite recipes this holiday season, keep in mind that fats, oils, and grease (FOG) do not belong down the drain. FOG from meats, lard, butters, dressings, and other cooking products may appear harmless as they flow easily down your kitchen sink. The problem occurs once these items harden. When wastewater is flushed through your pipes and delivered to the sewers, fat from the grease and oil mix with the other chemicals in the sewer water and form conglomerations that may build up in the sewer pipe. These greasy blobs can cause an expensive and dangerous backup into your home, yard, or street. This holiday season and all year-round, help protect our pipes, your pipes, and your wallets by properly disposing of the FOG. • First, never put FOG down your sink drain, toilet, or garbage disposal. • Wipe cooled FOG off all dishware using a paper towel before washing. You may throw the towel in the trashcan. • Use cold water to prepare dishware before placing them in the dishwasher. • Place the FOG in a sealable container and store the container in the refrigerator to solidify. Once the container is full, discard it in your household garbage or take it to a local recycle center. Visit edcodisposal.com to find a location near you. Finally it’s fall! Cool days and cool nights are a huge relief, for both people and plants. It also means it is time to change the way you are watering your garden. In the hot, dry summer air, plants are under huge water stress. They lose water from their leaves faster than their roots can replace it with water from the soil. That’s why plant leaves can look droopy, especially towards the end of a hot afternoon. Once the weather cools, and especially when the air is moist, plants don’t have nearly as much water stress. At the same time, the days are shorter and the sun sits lower in the sky. With the limited sunlight for photosynthesis, plant metabolism slows down. And with that, the plants’ water needs decrease. If you water by hand, notice that it takes longer for soil to dry out now. There’s no reason to water wet soil, so wait longer between watering. I have a large collection of potted plants and in the summer, I water every plant twice a week and sometimes more often. In the winter, the potting soil stays damp longer, so I water just once a week. If an old-fashioned manual irrigation clock controls your irrigation system, it’s time to adjust your clock. Each zone should run less often, but for the same number of minutes as it ran during the summer. If your garden soil is clay, you might be able to water just once every few weeks through fall and not at all in winter, especially when (or if) it rains. If your garden soil is sand, sand drains very quickly so the irrigation needs to run more often, maybe once every week or two – unless it rains. If your garden’s irrigation is managed by a “smart” controller, the controller is programmed to adjust the irrigation schedule seasonally, based on where your garden is located, the type of soil in your garden, types of plants, and a few other factors. Most systems have mini-weather stations that monitor heat, humidity, and rainfall to determine how often and how long to run each irrigation zone. Like with any other technology, you should check the controller’s log periodically to see how well it is doing its job. Now is a good time to do that check. Notice how often each zone runs and for how long. If the history doesn’t show your system running less often now, look for a button labeled “percent” or “%” and adjust the schedule there. If it rains, smart controllers shut the system down until the soil dries out. Have you ever cleaned your smart controller’s rain sensor? Dead leaves, dirt and other debris can collect in the sensor and interfere with its operations. Look for your controller’s rain sensors as part of a self-contained unit typically mounted near the irrigation controller and on a high point, like your home’s eaves or roof. If you are establishing new plants or a whole new garden, the newly installed plants need a little extra water this year, and maybe next year too. Establishing new plants in an existing garden can be a bit tricky since you want the new plants to get enough water, without overwatering everything else. I like to water each new plant with a small hose-end sprinkler set to make a fan only large enough to cover the soil beneath the plant’s canopy. I set the timer on my smartphone for 30 minutes or so. Once the soil is saturated, I move the sprinkler on to the next new plant. Establishing an entirely new garden is more straightforward, especially if you have an irrigation controller. Some smart controllers have a setting for establishing new gardens. If yours doesn’t, set the controller to run often enough to keep all the soil damp but not wet. You’ll need to monitor the garden and make adjustments to the controller as needed. And if we are very lucky this winter, Mother Nature will do all the watering for us. For more of Nan’s articles, visit otaywater.gov/plantsoupinc. Plant and Tree Watering Basics: Keeping Plants Healthy After Hotter Temperatures OTAY WATER DISTRICT – Board of Directors The Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. in the Board meeting room. The public is encouraged to attend at 2554 Sweetwater Springs Boulevard, Spring Valley, CA. President Mark Robak, Division 5 mrobak@otaywater.gov Vice President Tim Smith, Division 1 tsmith@otaywater.gov Treasurer Mitch Thompson, Division 2 mthompson@otaywater.gov Board Member Gary Croucher, Division 3 gcroucher@otaywater.gov Board Member Hector Gastelum, Division 4 hector@otaywater.gov Nan Sterman’sPlant Soup Inc. Nan Sterman is a garden expert, author, designer, and educator. Nan leads international garden tours and hosts the show A Growing Passion on KPBS TV. www.plantsoup.com For additional classes or events, visit thegarden.org Free Docent-Led ToursSaturdays, 10 a.m. Be inspired to create a water-wise landscape of your own while enjoying an informative walk through the Garden with a docent tour guide. Visit thegarden.org for special themed tours. Professional Landscape Design Consultations The Garden offers 45-minute landscape consultations for residents looking to make changes to their landscape with water-wise plants. Call (619) 660-0614 ext. 10 to schedule. Cost: $60 for members; $75 for nonmembers. Ms. Smarty-Plants School Tours and Assembly Program Become a Ms. Smarty-Plants Earth Hero. Join Ms. Smarty-Plants as she takes you on a magical, fun, and interactive journey through plant adaptations, the water cycle, conservation, and more. To book an educational tour of the Garden or a school assembly program, call (619) 660-0614 ext. 16. Gardens Aglow — Dec. 7-9 and 14-16, 6 to 8 p.m. Bring your family and friends to see the Garden as you have never seen it before! Enjoy holiday treats and refreshments as you stroll along gardens aglow with holiday lights. Register at thegarden.org. Cost: $5 for adults and children ages 12 and over; $3 for kids ages 3-11; free for members and kids ages 2 and under. Free parking. ONGOING EVENTS SEASONAL EVENTS Benefits of Harvesting Rainwater Collecting and reusing the little rain we often get in our region can go a long way. That is why water harvesting has become a supplemental water source for many homeowners. Water harvesting means capturing the rainwater where it falls to store for later use and eventually have it recharge into the ground. One practical and popular way of harvesting water is using a rain barrel, tank, or cistern to catch runoff from the roof when it rains. A major benefit of harvesting water is that it is free from pollutants and other man-made contaminants. Some other benefits include: • Reduces Your Water Bill: Rainwater is free! It can be used for nearly all cleaning needs, including flushing toilets, irrigating, bathing pets, and washing clothes and cars. • Suitable for Irrigation: Plant growth may improve because rainwater is free from salts, minerals, and chemicals. Your plants and trees can grow healthy and overall save you money on maintenance and landscaping needs. • Reduces Runoff: Runoff can cause low-lying areas to flood and soil to erode. Water harvesting can reduce the contamination of surface water and pollution of our watershed and ocean. • Gives You Money: Otay customers can get a $35 rebate on a rain barrel (maximum of 2) or up to $350 for a cistern, depending on capacity. For more information on rebates, visit otaywater.gov. Inspiring Students to Become Earth Heroes “What is an Earth Hero?” you ask. Earth heroes recycle, care for animals, pick up trash, save water, and more. The Otay Water District invites students living in the District’s service area to learn what it takes to become an Earth Hero. The Water Conservation Garden’s Ms. Smarty-Plants or Señorita Plantasia offers kindergarten through 6th-grade programs that are consistent with California State Standards, E-STEM, and Next Generation Science Standards. The District provides students attending schools in the District’s service area with the opportunity to visit Ms. Smarty-Plants through a field trip to the Water Conservation Garden or have her visit their school through a school- assembly program. Ms. Smarty-Plants combines education, music, and Spanish to inspire students to use critical thinking when saving water and caring for the planet. If you are a teacher or student in the District’s service area, or you know a teacher or a student in the District’s service area, more information about these award-winning programs can be found at mssmartyplants.org or by calling (619) 660-0614 x16. Ms. Smarty Plants is a lifelong educator with over 30 years teaching experience. Keep Grease Out of Your Sink This Holiday Season! When cooking your favorite recipes this holiday season, keep in mind that fats, oils, and grease (FOG) do not belong down the drain. FOG from meats, lard, butters, dressings, and other cooking products may appear harmless as they flow easily down your kitchen sink. The problem occurs once these items harden. When wastewater is flushed through your pipes and delivered to the sewers, fat from the grease and oil mix with the other chemicals in the sewer water and form conglomerations that may build up in the sewer pipe. These greasy blobs can cause an expensive and dangerous backup into your home, yard, or street. This holiday season and all year-round, help protect our pipes, your pipes, and your wallets by properly disposing of the FOG. • First, never put FOG down your sink drain, toilet, or garbage disposal. • Wipe cooled FOG off all dishware using a paper towel before washing. You may throw the towel in the trashcan. • Use cold water to prepare dishware before placing them in the dishwasher. • Place the FOG in a sealable container and store the container in the refrigerator to solidify. Once the container is full, discard it in your household garbage or take it to a local recycle center. Visit edcodisposal.com to find a location near you. Finally it’s fall! Cool days and cool nights are a huge relief, for both people and plants. It also means it is time to change the way you are watering your garden. In the hot, dry summer air, plants are under huge water stress. They lose water from their leaves faster than their roots can replace it with water from the soil. That’s why plant leaves can look droopy, especially towards the end of a hot afternoon. Once the weather cools, and especially when the air is moist, plants don’t have nearly as much water stress. At the same time, the days are shorter and the sun sits lower in the sky. With the limited sunlight for photosynthesis, plant metabolism slows down. And with that, the plants’ water needs decrease. If you water by hand, notice that it takes longer for soil to dry out now. There’s no reason to water wet soil, so wait longer between watering. I have a large collection of potted plants and in the summer, I water every plant twice a week and sometimes more often. In the winter, the potting soil stays damp longer, so I water just once a week. If an old-fashioned manual irrigation clock controls your irrigation system, it’s time to adjust your clock. Each zone should run less often, but for the same number of minutes as it ran during the summer. If your garden soil is clay, you might be able to water just once every few weeks through fall and not at all in winter, especially when (or if) it rains. If your garden soil is sand, sand drains very quickly so the irrigation needs to run more often, maybe once every week or two – unless it rains. If your garden’s irrigation is managed by a “smart” controller, the controller is programmed to adjust the irrigation schedule seasonally, based on where your garden is located, the type of soil in your garden, types of plants, and a few other factors. Most systems have mini-weather stations that monitor heat, humidity, and rainfall to determine how often and how long to run each irrigation zone. Like with any other technology, you should check the controller’s log periodically to see how well it is doing its job. Now is a good time to do that check. Notice how often each zone runs and for how long. If the history doesn’t show your system running less often now, look for a button labeled “percent” or “%” and adjust the schedule there. If it rains, smart controllers shut the system down until the soil dries out. Have you ever cleaned your smart controller’s rain sensor? Dead leaves, dirt and other debris can collect in the sensor and interfere with its operations. Look for your controller’s rain sensors as part of a self-contained unit typically mounted near the irrigation controller and on a high point, like your home’s eaves or roof. If you are establishing new plants or a whole new garden, the newly installed plants need a little extra water this year, and maybe next year too. Establishing new plants in an existing garden can be a bit tricky since you want the new plants to get enough water, without overwatering everything else. I like to water each new plant with a small hose-end sprinkler set to make a fan only large enough to cover the soil beneath the plant’s canopy. I set the timer on my smartphone for 30 minutes or so. Once the soil is saturated, I move the sprinkler on to the next new plant. Establishing an entirely new garden is more straightforward, especially if you have an irrigation controller. Some smart controllers have a setting for establishing new gardens. If yours doesn’t, set the controller to run often enough to keep all the soil damp but not wet. You’ll need to monitor the garden and make adjustments to the controller as needed. And if we are very lucky this winter, Mother Nature will do all the watering for us. For more of Nan’s articles, visit otaywater.gov/plantsoupinc. Plant and Tree Watering Basics: Keeping Plants Healthy After Hotter Temperatures T H E O TAY WA TER DISTRICT • P R OUDLY SERVING E A ST C OUNT Y A ND TH E S OUTH B AY SINC E 1956 A NE W SLET TE R FOR CUSTOMER S OF T HE OTAY WATER DISTRICT The Pipeline Newsletter is published quarterly by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at www.otaywater.gov. Copyright © 2017 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. FALL 2017 FOLLOW OTAY WATER ON... / SIGA AL DISTRITO DE AGUA DE OTAY EN... Recuperamos y reciclamos nuestro recurso más valioso En la actualidad, el Distrito de Agua de Otay opera uno de los sistemas de distribución de agua reciclada más grande del condado de San Diego. La Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales Ralph W. Chapman en Rancho San Diego puede llegar a producir hasta 1.3 millones de galones de agua reciclada por día. Esta agua se utiliza para irrigar parte del este de Chula Vista, incluyendo Eastlake, Rancho Del Rey y Otay Ranch. El uso de agua reciclada para el riego de jardines y procesos industriales reduce la demanda de agua potable importada, proporciona un suministro de agua local a prueba de sequía, y diversifica los recursos del distrito. El agua reciclada también se puede utilizar para el riego de áreas verdes y agrícolas; llenado de lagos artificiales; y usos industriales y comerciales apropiados. La planta Chapman trata las aguas residuales residenciales y de negocios en el área de servicio del distrito y las convierte en agua limpia para fines de irrigación. Las aguas residuales son casi el 95 por ciento del agua. Las aguas negras crudas pasan por un tratamiento avanzado que incluye el tratamiento primario, secundario y terciario. La planta bombea el agua a diferentes tanques para ser tratada a un nivel terciario mediante el sistema de filtrado y cloración. La razón por la cual el agua reciclada para riego pasa por el nivel más alto de tratamiento es para cumplir con el Código de Normas de California, título 22. Posteriormente, se combina el lodo de aguas residuales. El excedente de aguas residuales no tratadas es bombeado al Sistema Metropolitano de Aguas Residuales de San Diego. La planta Chapman tiene un laboratorio certificado por el Programa de Acreditación de Laboratorios de Defensa Ambiental (ELAP, por sus siglas en inglés) donde el distrito realiza pruebas al agua reciclada y potable. Para minimizar o evitar los derrames, el distrito supervisa y da mantenimiento a las tuberías de alcantarillado para que permanezcan en buenas condiciones. El distrito tiene cámaras de video que se desplazan con regularidad a lo largo de la tubería para detectar si existe algún deterioro o alguna fuga. Un camión Vactor sistemáticamente va a los puntos críticos para limpiar las grasas y aceites. La historia de Otay en el tema del reciclaje de agua se remonta a principios de la década de 1960 cuando el ex director Ralph W. Chapman reconoció por primera vez el agua reciclada como un suministro a largo plazo y de bajo costo. El distrito comenzó su primer proyecto de agua reciclada a finales de la década de 1960 con una instalación de una planta a pequeña escala llamada Miss Stinky. En aquellos tiempos, Otay solo tenía unos pocos clientes de agua reciclada. En 1980, Otay decidió abrir la Planta Chapman para tratar las aguas residuales de Calavo Gardens y Rancho San Diego a un nivel más alto, y proveer agua reciclada para el riego de diversas áreas en el este de Chula Vista. A mediados de la década de 1990, la ciudad de Chula Vista y el Distrito de Agua de Otay comenzaron a solicitar el uso de tuberías duales. El primer conjunto de tuberías suministraría agua potable y el segundo conjunto entregaría agua reciclada para el riego de parques, campos de golf y béisbol, zonas verdes y áreas comunes de las nuevas comunidades crecientes del este de Chula Vista. Además, a partir del año 2007, la Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales Chapman del distrito se complementó con agua reciclada proveniente de la Planta de Aguas Residuales del Sur de la Bahía perteneciente a la ciudad de San Diego. En la actualidad, el distrito continúa comprando hasta 6 millones de galones por día de agua reciclada de la planta de la ciudad. El distrito continúa aumentando el uso de agua reciclada en sus servicios para reducir la demanda general de agua potable. Para obtener información acerca del agua reciclada o la planta, por favor visite otaywater.gov/about-otay/water-information/ reclamation-water. Reclaiming Our Most Valuable Resource and Recycling It Otay Water District currently operates one of the largest recycled water distribution systems in San Diego County. The Ralph W. Chapman Water Recycling Facility in Rancho San Diego is capable of producing up to 1.3 million gallons per day of recycled water that is used to irrigate parts of Eastern Chula Vista, including Eastlake, Rancho Del Rey, and Otay Ranch. The use of recycled water for landscape irrigation and industrial processes minimizes the demand for imported potable (drinking) water, provides a local supply that is drought proof, and diversifies the District’s sources. Recycled water can also be used for irrigation of greenbelt and agricultural areas, filling of artificial lakes, and appropriate industrial and commercial uses. The Chapman facility treats residential and business sewage in the District’s service area, and turns it into clean water for irrigation purposes. Sewage is about 95 percent water. Raw sewage goes through an advanced treatment process, which includes primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment. The plant pumps the water into several tanks to be treated to a tertiary level using filtration and chlorine. Reclaimed water for irrigation purposes must meet the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, which is why it goes through this higher level of treatment. The plant then combines the sewage sludge, and excess non-treated wastewater is pumped to the City of San Diego’s Metropolitan Wastewater System. The Chapman facility has an Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) certified laboratory where the District’s recycled and potable water are tested. To minimize or avoid spills, the District monitors and maintains its sewer pipes so they remain in good condition. The District has video cameras that regularly run the length of the pipe to check for where they may be deteriorating or leaking. A special vehicle, called a Vactor truck, routinely goes to the “hot spots” to clean fats, oils, and grease. Otay’s history in recycling water goes back to the early 1960s, when former Director Ralph W. Chapman first recognized recycled water as a low-cost, long-term supply of water. The District began its first recycled water project in the late 1960s with a small packaged facility, called Miss Stinky. At this time, Otay had few customers for recycled water. In 1980, Otay dedicated a larger facility — the Ralph W. Chapman Water Recycling Facility — to treat sewage at a high level from Calavo Gardens and Rancho San Diego and provide recycled water to irrigate areas in Eastern Chula Vista. By the mid-1990s, the City of Chula Vista and Otay Water District jointly began requiring dual piping. One set of pipes would supply potable water, while a second set would deliver recycled water to irrigate parks, golf courses, ball fields, parkways, and common areas in the new growing communities in the eastern part of Chula Vista. Additionally, by 2007, recycled water from the District’s Chapman Treatment Plant was supplemented with recycled water from the City of San Diego’s South Bay Water Reclamation Plant. Today, the District continues purchasing up to 6 million gallons per day of recycled water from the city’s plant. The District continues to increase the use of recycled water in its service to minimize overall demand for potable water. For details on recycled water or the plant, visit otaywater.gov/about-otay/water- information/reclamation-water.