Camp, Dresser & McKee (CDM) managed the project development, final design and the bidding phases. Lynn Capouya, Inc. (LCI) was the landscape architecture firm selected to provide landscape solutions for the major entry, Research Center and Laboratory, and the Community and Treatment Process areas.

CDM designed a water treatment facility that uses microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection to purify secondary effluent. The multi-barrier, advanced treatment approach of MF and RO, followed by UV disinfection to remove bacteria, emerging contaminants and viruses, met the stringent criteria of the California Department of Public Health prior to completion of the facility. As required by the state, OCWD appointed an independent advisory panel comprising public health, medicine and environmental engineering and biology experts for independent oversight.

The landscape architect specified a diverse palette of drought-tolerant plant materials for sun and shade at the facility (Santa Ana cardinal coral bells, an evergreen perennial, pictured).

The plant is highly automated, reducing the number of required operators. As a part of the project, CDM also designed supporting chemical systems, onsite buildings, an electrical substation, three water pumping stations, more than 13 miles of pipeline to transport the water to recharge basins, three miles of barrier pipelines and 16 injection wells on eight different sites. CDM performed groundwater modeling to determine the optimum placement of injection wells used to prevent seawater intrusion. The treated water is injected into these underground seawater barrier wells or percolated into aquifers, replenishing the aquifer and reducing total dissolved solids. The injected water blends with existing groundwater, forming a barrier against seawater intrusion. This treated wastewater was previously discharged to the Pacific Ocean, approximately four miles south of the facility, but is now an economically feasible drinking water source for about half a million people.

Granite boulders, 2-4 ft. dia., and plantings, such as purple fountain grass and fortnight lily, are tucked around the existing bottlebrush trees, which were protected in place.

Treating effluent to high standards is not only creating a reliable water supply from a previously wasted local resource but also conserves energy. Less power is required to purify wastewater than to import a similar amount of water from Northern California or from the Colorado River, reducing the regional power demand. It also ensures water demands are met even during drought periods.

Ward Street runs along the west side of the facility and borders a housing tract. Plantings of Ribes speciosa, Heteromeles arbrutifolia, Rhus ovata, Iris douglasiana, Eleagnus pungens and Cotoneaster ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The purified water produced by the system is near distilled quality, requiring that minerals be added back in for stability. The resulting water is more superior in quality than water available for recharge from imported water or stormwater.

A dense cover of Star Jasmine has filled in nicely to help screen the facility from the street. The Groundwater Replenishment facility incorporated and expanded the existing reclaimed water system and used low-water volume spray and bubblers for landscape irrigation.

The recycled water also benefits area residents by reducing the salinity of water in the groundwater basins. The lower mineral content groundwater (?EUR??,,????'?????<

Chilean mesquite trees are alternated with espaliered Star Jasmine to help screen the facility from the neighborhood across the street.

Flagship Facility

The GWR System is one of the largest plants in the world using MF/RO/UV to purify treated wastewater into drinking water. The new, streamlined facility can produce 70 million gallons per day (mgd) of purified water in about the same spatial footprint that housed Water Factory 21, which treated 5 mgd. The facility is expandable to 130 mgd. Scaling up the innovative technology from pilot to full size required a significant increase in the membrane area, pump capacity, ancillary facilities and the number of trains, as well as heavier equipment, a larger building, and multiple chemical deliveries per day.

The GWR system has received favorable mainstream media coverage that includes The New York Times, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and National Public Radio.

The facility is setting the standard for recycled water projects. Industry professionals from Singapore, Australia and China have visited the facility. Similar plants are underway in Singapore, Australia and Miami.

The bottle brush trees were protected in place along Ellis Street, which runs along the north side of the facility. The planting are Dietes bicolor, Eleagnus pungens, Rhaphiolepis ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Widespread Community Support

OCWD gained community support through public education in the 20 cities and water agencies within the service area of 2.3 million people. Outreach to citizens, businesses, local officials, state legislators, medical and science experts and environmental groups?EUR??,,????'?????<

The drop-off area offers a patio for employees and is a gathering spot for tours of the facility. Fortnight lily is the groundcover (foreground). The patches of pink flowers are Lantana montevidensis. The youthful trees are Cassia excelsa. The hardscape is a medium, sandblast concrete with a Lithocrete black-colored banding. Site amenities include benches and trash receptacles (Forms and Surfaces) and planters (Quickcrete Products).

Landscape with Sustainability in Mind

Creation of a landscaped berm to shield the neighborhood from the facility was implemented early on in the GWR facility construction.

The landscape architects embraced a drought-tolerant design for the facility and incorporated and expanded the existing reclaimed water system, specifying low-water volume spray and bubblers for landscape irrigation.

The planter strip between the river rock blanket and the facility allows visual and physical separation. The ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The landscape architects also worked to maintain those parts of the landscape considered cultural resources, such as several existing bottlebrush trees.

The Orange County Water District and the groundwater replenishment system have been honored with more than a dozen awards, including the EPA?EUR??,,????'?????<

Groundwater Replenishment System Team
CDM: managed project development, final design and the bidding phases
Brown and Caldwell: electrical/structural engineering
Tetra Tech: civil, electrical, structural engineering
EHDD: phase 1 architect
HOK: phase II architect)
Lynn Capouya, Inc.: landscape architecture, Gerald Ohta, ASLA, project manager
Diaz-Yourman & Associates
Moraes/Pham
Lee & Ro
RBF
ODC
Beyaz & Patel
TJC
DeC Consultants
Wieland & Associates
FloScience
Saf-R-dig
Berryman & Henigar
RMW Paleo Associates
Workhorse Consulting
Universal Reprographics South

Trees
The tree species installed at the Orange County Water District include:

golden medallion	golden rain
flaxleaf paperbark	Chilean mesquite
pomegranate	African sumac pink trumpet

Shrubs, Groundcover, Vines
The shrubs, groundcover, vines species installed at the Orange County Water District include:

dwarft Oregon grape	Indian Hawthorne
fuchsia flowering gooseberry	Pacific Coast iris
saltillo evening primrose	angelwing jasmine