Water Shouldn’t Only Be Used Once!

El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU), one of the nation’s most progressive water agencies, has been delivering reclaimed water to the community since 1963. As a pioneer in water reclamation, EPWU has attained international recognition for its innovative and extensive use of recycled water. EPWU now operates the most extensive and advanced reclaimed water system in Texas for industrial use and landscape irrigation.

All communities must treat their wastewater to a certain level. After treatment, many utilities or districts simply dispose of their effluent in a river, stream or ocean. EPWU’s philosophy is that water is too valuable to be used only once. Located in a desert, EPWU made a decision many years ago to think of reclaimed water as a valuable resource rather than a by product that needs to be disposed of.

Every gallon of reclaimed water that is used for irrigation crops and landscape or for construction or manufacturing is one gallon of potable water that is saved that does not have to be pumped out from our aquifers or needs to be treated from the Rio Grande River.

Wastewater from within the EPWU collection area is collected and treated at one of four EPWU’s Wastewater Reclamation Plants using advanced secondary or tertiary treatment. The result is high water quality that has earned EPWU the reputation as operating the first wastewater treatment plant in the world to meet drinking water standards for its reclaimed water. The other three plants meet the highest possible quality rating of Type I reclaimed water as described in Texas State regulations and monitored by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Who Can Use Reclaimed Water?

Reclaimed water use has been proven safe for the following types of applications throughout the U.S. and are approved for use by the State of Texas TCEQ.

• City Parks
• School Playgrounds and Sport Fields
• Landscape Nurseries
• Sports Complexes
• Golf Courses
• Street Median Landscaping
• Construction Projects
• Street Sweeping
• Fire Protection
• Residential Landscape
• Apartment Landscape
• Industrial Cooling Towers
• Industrial Processes

EPWU currently supplies golf courses, city parks, school grounds, apartment landscapes and industrial uses with over four million gallons per day of reclaimed water.

Present Projects

One current project under construction is the NW Wastewater Reclamation Facilities Project. This multi-phase project provides over 300 million gallons of reclaimed water per year through 22 miles of pipeline to various locations in Northwest El Paso. The project value is $23 million paid for by grants from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Texas Water Development Board and through City of El Paso Water and Sewer revenue bonds from EPWU. Additional extensions are planned to serve Canutillo High School, westside parks, and commercial properties.

Phase I of the Haskell R. Street Reclaimed Water Project was completed in 2003 and provides reclaimed water service to 4 schools, 4 parks, Evergreen Cemetery, Ascarate Golf Course, and the El Paso Zoo for irrigation. The first phase of this project will provide 400 million gallons per year of reclaimed water through 19,200 linear feet of pipeline to various locations in Central El Paso south of Interstate 10. The second Phase IA will extend as far as areas just north of Interstate 10 and includes the historic Concordia Cemetery, 3 parks, and 1 school. The projects are valued at $13.4 million, which will be funded through grants from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and through the City of El Paso Water and Sewer revenue bonds from EPWU. A subsequent phase is intended to serve Ft. Bliss military base for a proposed 100 acre city soccer complex and possibly other grounds by 2006.

Another project is reclaimed water supplied by the Bustamante Wastewater Plant to the Riverside International Industrial Center through 8,000 linear feet of pipe. This project provides reclaimed water to the City Tree Farm located east of Loop 375 and north of Southside Road. A study is underway to identify new customers within the area bounded by Interstate 10, Yarbrough Drive, Border Highway, and Americas Ave.

A recent project was designed to serve a proposed City of El Paso Regional Park in Northeast El Paso. Reclaimed water from the Fred Hervey Water Reclamation Plant will be used for irrigation of ball fields, playgrounds and landscape. Upon completion of the park's first 16-acre phase in 2005, it is expected to use approximately 20 million gallons of reclaimed water on an annual basis and ultimately up to 72 million gallons annually after full buildup. Construction of this project, which consists of installing approximately 2200 linear feet of 12-inch and 4150 linear feet of 16-inch purple pipe, is expected to begin in February 2005.

For more information concerning the use of reclaimed water, future reclaimed water projects or on issues concerning water recycling contact: The Water Reclamation and Biosolids Department of EPWU at (915) 594-5772 or e-mail the Water Reclamation and Biosolids Manager.