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For most LVMWD customers, the delivery
of fresh, reliable water is only half the story. The other half begins
once you rinse, shower, launder, brush or flush. You might not give
much thought to water once it goes down the drain, but for a significant
portion of our employees, that’s when the work begins.
Wastewater treatment has been termed one of the most important
health advances of the last century. Beside the obvious health and safety
benefits of modern wastewater treatment, LVMWD’s service area comes
with a unique set of challenges that warrant additional processes and
attention beyond the treatment found in many other areas of the country.
LVMWD’s Tapia Water Reclamation Facility receives nearly 10 million
gallons of wastewater every day. In a 24-hour cycle all of that water
is filtered, biologically treated and disinfected before being returned
to the environment. When the process is complete, this “recycled
water” meets strict standards set by the California Department
of Health Services so it is so clean you can legally swim in it.
The “finished” recycled water takes on added importance when
it is used again for irrigating our parks, common areas, golf courses
and freeway landscapes. On average, 60% of the water treated at Tapia
is beneficially reused—more than just about anywhere in the nation.
Every gallon of recycled water used for irrigation conserves drinking
water resources and reduces the demand for water imported from northern
California.
Biosolids removed during Tapia’s treatment process are also recycled.
A modernized treatment process at LVMWD’s Rancho Las Virgenes Composting
Facility takes waste formerly sent to landfills and converts it to Grade
A compost that is approved for use on crops grown for human consumption.
The fragile environment of the Malibu Creek Watershed, the
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Santa Monica Bay
underscore the need for additional environmental stewardship in caring
for the region’s natural assets. These advanced treatment steps
are costly, but necessary within the sensitive and magnificent natural
region where we live. Recognizing human impacts on the environment, LVMWD’s
board made a commitment to “total beneficial reuse” over
ten years ago. This progressive approach to waste treatment has demonstrated
its value over time. We’re proud of our employees’ role in
safeguarding the environment and completing the “full circle” of
water use by returning it – safe and clean - to nature.
Partners in Environmental Stewardship
Tapia Water Reclamation and Rancho Las Virgenes Composting Facilities serve the Malibu Creek watershed and are operated as a joint powers authority by LVMWD and Triunfo Sanitation District (TSD). TSD provides wastewater services to our watershed neighbors in Oak Park, portions of Thousand Oaks and some unincorporated segments of East Ventura County. |
