The Santa Margarita Water District ("SMWD") has announced plans to demolish the existing 3.0 million gallon/day ("MGD") Oso Creek Water Reclamation Plant ("WRP"), existing office and warehousing buildings to make way for a new technologically-advanced water reclamation plant and an advanced water treatment facility. Replacement offices, warehousing space and parking will also be constructed on the site.
When completed, the new plant will improve water quality and help develop an increased sustainable, local water supply. It will produce some 3.3 MGD of treated wastewater for use in SMWD's recycled water system.
SMWD is working with the City of Mission Viejo as it is begins development of its Core Area Vision Plan for the shopping center located on the west side of Oso Creek opposite the treatment plant location. Today, the city utilizes office and warehouse space at the existing plant by agreement. The new water reclamation will also include shared spaces for the city and will blend with the aesthetics of the proposed city improvements included along Oso Creek in the city's Vision Plan.
The project also includes the construction of a 1.0 MGD Oso Barrier Urban Return Water Treatment Plant ("URWTP") advanced water treatment facility on the site. The Oso Barrier URWTP will process urban runoff to be used for irrigation, lake fill, and potable reuse. It will include prescreening equipment, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and UV disinfection to produce highly treated water.
Demolition of the existing plant is expected to begin in early 2022 with completion of the new facility within 24 months.
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