District to expand recycled water infrastructure in French Valley

Last week Eastern Municipal Water District’s (EMWD) Board of Directors approved a $4.4 million contract to construct Phase II of the French Valley Recycled Water Pipeline, which will expand recycled water service in the French Valley community.

The new pipeline is the next phase of the French Valley Recycled Water Expansion Project designed to increase recycled water use for landscape irrigation. Phase II will include a total of 12,300 feet of 12-inch and 8-inch recycled water pipeline, primarily on Pourroy Road and Benton Road in French Valley.

The new pipelines, once constructed, will help EMWD reduce potable (drinking) water use to existing landscape irrigation sites in the area, including Emerald Park, Brookfield Park, Susan LaVorgna Elementary School, and to Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District-maintained streetscapes in the area.

The pipelines will also support recycled water use in future development within the French Valley area.

It is anticipated that the Phase II pipelines will initially support enough recycled water use to offset more than 200 acre feet per year of potable water demand. That is enough for nearly 500 homes.

The existing parks, schools and streetscapes will be participants in EMWD’s nationally-recognized Recycled Water Accelerated Retrofit Program, which expedites the retrofit of existing facilities from potable to recycled water for irrigation purposes.

“As California continues to face historic drought conditions, it has never been more important for us to invest in the expansion of our recycled water infrastructure to help maintain functional community landscaping, including parks and schools,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “We are proud to continue to further our recycled water efforts in the French Valley community and look forward to the successful completion of this important project.”