Recycled water is now being used to irrigate the athletic fields and other landscaping at Calavera Hills Community Park.
The addition of recycled water service at the 16-acre park in northeast Carlsbad will save an estimated 8.5 million gallons of drinking water a year. Recycled water, wastewater that has been treated to a level suitable for irrigation and other non-drinking purposes, is used throughout the city to irrigate parks, street medians and other landscaping.
Every gallon of recycled water used saves a gallon of drinking water, which is facing severe restrictions due to a prolonged drought and legal restrictions on pumping water through the ecologically fragile Bay-Delta in Northern California. Currently, all of Carlsbad's drinking water is imported from the Colorado River and Northern California.
In May, the Carlsbad Municipal Water District declared a Level 2 Drought Alert, which imposes mandatory water conservation measures, such as limiting outdoor irrigation. As a result of decreasing irrigation, grass and other landscaping has begun to turn brown at city parks and facilities that don't have recycled water service. The water use restrictions do not apply to the use of recycled water.
To prepare for water shortages, the city has aggressively expanded the use of recycled water, promoted increased conservation through water audits and rebate programs, supported the development of a seawater desalination project and installed synthetic turf on athletic fields at four parks.
The addition of recycled water service at the 16-acre park in northeast Carlsbad will save an estimated 8.5 million gallons of drinking water a year. Recycled water, wastewater that has been treated to a level suitable for irrigation and other non-drinking purposes, is used throughout the city to irrigate parks, street medians and other landscaping.
Every gallon of recycled water used saves a gallon of drinking water, which is facing severe restrictions due to a prolonged drought and legal restrictions on pumping water through the ecologically fragile Bay-Delta in Northern California. Currently, all of Carlsbad's drinking water is imported from the Colorado River and Northern California.
In May, the Carlsbad Municipal Water District declared a Level 2 Drought Alert, which imposes mandatory water conservation measures, such as limiting outdoor irrigation. As a result of decreasing irrigation, grass and other landscaping has begun to turn brown at city parks and facilities that don't have recycled water service. The water use restrictions do not apply to the use of recycled water.
To prepare for water shortages, the city has aggressively expanded the use of recycled water, promoted increased conservation through water audits and rebate programs, supported the development of a seawater desalination project and installed synthetic turf on athletic fields at four parks.