Desalination plant and recycled water put city a step ahead of drought
When it comes to water, it's fair to say that Carlsbad's vision is 20/20.
As the state and municipal water agencies wrestle with one of the most severe droughts on record, and with an historic implementation of mandatory reductions just around the corner, water is a top-of-mind concern for many Californians and businesses in the state, especially those that depend on water for their livelihood.
While Carlsbad will not be exempt from the upcoming cuts, foresight, both past and present, put the city in a good position to meet the conservation challenge.
The city's coastline has received a lot of attention. Poseidon Water's Carlsbad Desalination Project is expected to open this fall, providing a drought-proof supply of locally produced water that will account for 7 percent of the county's water by 2020, that's enough to provide drinking water to about 300,000 San Diegans. Some say the local desalination plant may be the first of many created to address water issues in the state.
The State Water Resources Control Board, acting on an executive order from Gov. Jerry Brown, is set to enforce a mandatory reduction of 25 percent in water use throughout the state. The exact percentage by which each city will have to reduce its use of water will vary and be based by per capita water use from the summer of 2014.
In Carlsbad, residents will be expected to reduce their water use by 28 percent, said Mario Remillard, the city's conservation coordinator. That means that residents will have to use at least 37 fewer gallons of water per day from the current average of 133.
Desalinated water is one of a number of resources that put Carlsbad in a good position to handle the drought. The city will get 2,500 acre feet of water per year from the desalination plant, or about 326,000 gallons.
"The City has a robust water portfolio, which will provide the businesses in Carlsbad future water supplies that will not be impeded by the current drought," Remillard said. "They can continue to provide goods and services to customers."
The use of processed wastewater to irrigate parks, street medians, golf courses and other areas, which the city started in 1991, is another resource Carlsbad has in its favor.
Recycled water, which is treated to be used for irrigation and other non-potable uses, is exempt from drought watering restrictions, and every gallon used frees up potable water.
"There are other cities that use recycled water, but we are one of the largest producers and users of it in San Diego County," Remillard said.
The city currently has nearly 90 miles of pipes that carry reclaimed water. You may have seen the purple pipes, valves, sprinkler heads and signs warning that the water should not be consumed. More than 700 sites use recycled water, including the golf courses at The Crossings at Carlsbad, the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa and the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa; LEGOLAND California Resort; the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel; Karl Strauss Brewery; and The Flower Fields.
Carlsbad has just received a $5 million grant that will allow it to expand its delivery system and offer an additional 7,000 acre feet a year of reclaimed water. The expansion will cover the far northeast and southwest portion of the city.
This includes the business park area bounded by Camino Vida Roble, Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real.
Fred Clark, general manager of The Flower Fields, said turning to recycled (or reclaimed) water showed foresight on the part of the city leaders.
"Not everyone has access to reclaimed water," said Clark. "We're counting our lucky stars that when they made that water available, we said, 'Yes, please put that pipe next to our property.'"
The Flower Fields use reclaimed water on their established bulbs (the salt of the reclaimed water would damage the younger plants). But the popular field of ranunculus has other ways to make sure it uses water efficiently.
Clark points out that since the dry years of the late '80s, the flower fields use drip irrigation, which allows water to be placed at the base of each plant to minimize wasted water and overspraying. About two years ago, soil moisture monitors were installed at the fields, and a computer program allows growers to determine how long to water the flowers to optimize moisture to the root zone and not beyond.
"When you break down the business and you look at the expenses of operating The Flower Fields and growing the crop of ranunculus, the largest line item on our budget is labor," Clark said. "The next item is water … so managing our water usage is very important to us because that's an area where we can make a difference."
We believe we're taking this challenge to task," Clark added. "We're doing everything within our power to conserve water and use water smartly."
When it comes to water, it's fair to say that Carlsbad's vision is 20/20.
As the state and municipal water agencies wrestle with one of the most severe droughts on record, and with an historic implementation of mandatory reductions just around the corner, water is a top-of-mind concern for many Californians and businesses in the state, especially those that depend on water for their livelihood.
While Carlsbad will not be exempt from the upcoming cuts, foresight, both past and present, put the city in a good position to meet the conservation challenge.
The city's coastline has received a lot of attention. Poseidon Water's Carlsbad Desalination Project is expected to open this fall, providing a drought-proof supply of locally produced water that will account for 7 percent of the county's water by 2020, that's enough to provide drinking water to about 300,000 San Diegans. Some say the local desalination plant may be the first of many created to address water issues in the state.
The State Water Resources Control Board, acting on an executive order from Gov. Jerry Brown, is set to enforce a mandatory reduction of 25 percent in water use throughout the state. The exact percentage by which each city will have to reduce its use of water will vary and be based by per capita water use from the summer of 2014.
In Carlsbad, residents will be expected to reduce their water use by 28 percent, said Mario Remillard, the city's conservation coordinator. That means that residents will have to use at least 37 fewer gallons of water per day from the current average of 133.
Desalinated water is one of a number of resources that put Carlsbad in a good position to handle the drought. The city will get 2,500 acre feet of water per year from the desalination plant, or about 326,000 gallons.
"The City has a robust water portfolio, which will provide the businesses in Carlsbad future water supplies that will not be impeded by the current drought," Remillard said. "They can continue to provide goods and services to customers."
The use of processed wastewater to irrigate parks, street medians, golf courses and other areas, which the city started in 1991, is another resource Carlsbad has in its favor.
Recycled water, which is treated to be used for irrigation and other non-potable uses, is exempt from drought watering restrictions, and every gallon used frees up potable water.
"There are other cities that use recycled water, but we are one of the largest producers and users of it in San Diego County," Remillard said.
The city currently has nearly 90 miles of pipes that carry reclaimed water. You may have seen the purple pipes, valves, sprinkler heads and signs warning that the water should not be consumed. More than 700 sites use recycled water, including the golf courses at The Crossings at Carlsbad, the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa and the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa; LEGOLAND California Resort; the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel; Karl Strauss Brewery; and The Flower Fields.
Carlsbad has just received a $5 million grant that will allow it to expand its delivery system and offer an additional 7,000 acre feet a year of reclaimed water. The expansion will cover the far northeast and southwest portion of the city.
This includes the business park area bounded by Camino Vida Roble, Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real.
Fred Clark, general manager of The Flower Fields, said turning to recycled (or reclaimed) water showed foresight on the part of the city leaders.
"Not everyone has access to reclaimed water," said Clark. "We're counting our lucky stars that when they made that water available, we said, 'Yes, please put that pipe next to our property.'"
The Flower Fields use reclaimed water on their established bulbs (the salt of the reclaimed water would damage the younger plants). But the popular field of ranunculus has other ways to make sure it uses water efficiently.
Clark points out that since the dry years of the late '80s, the flower fields use drip irrigation, which allows water to be placed at the base of each plant to minimize wasted water and overspraying. About two years ago, soil moisture monitors were installed at the fields, and a computer program allows growers to determine how long to water the flowers to optimize moisture to the root zone and not beyond.
"When you break down the business and you look at the expenses of operating The Flower Fields and growing the crop of ranunculus, the largest line item on our budget is labor," Clark said. "The next item is water … so managing our water usage is very important to us because that's an area where we can make a difference."
We believe we're taking this challenge to task," Clark added. "We're doing everything within our power to conserve water and use water smartly."