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 prior to disposal. 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 of 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 in 2005 Reclaimed Water Use Trend (Click on chart for larger image)

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 4.6 million gallons per day of reclaimed water. Over 5 million gallons per day of reclaimed water is used for the operation of treatment plants (in-plant use) and for recharge of the Hueco Bolson through injection wells and infiltration basins.

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 25 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 new schools, parks, and commercial properties in the Resler and Helen of Troy area. Another extension will soon serve Canutillo High School and a future sports field complex.

Phase I of the Haskell R. Street Reclaimed Water Project was completed in 2003 and provides reclaimed water service to 1 school, 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 extends as far as areas just north of Interstate 10 and includes the historic Concordia Cemetery (a complex composed of 5 major cemeteries), 3 parks, a stormdrain station, street parkways and medians. A third phase will soon bid for construction of two automated dispensing stations. These stations will be capable of dispensing reclaimed water into water trucks for use at construction sites, street sweeping, car washing, and other non-potable uses. One station will be built adjacent to Ascarate Golf Course and the other near the El Paso County Coliseum on Boone St. 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 2008.

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 thorough study was completed in 2005 identifying new customers within the area bounded by Interstate 10, Yarbrough Drive, Border Highway, and Americas Ave. Bustamante Phases II, III and IV will soon commence construction to provide service to Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Del Valle High School and Blackie Chesher-Zaragosa Parks, as well as a new elementary school. These three projects are expected to be complete in mid-late 2006, saving approximately 140 million gallons per year of potable water.

A recent project was built to serve a proposed City of El Paso Regional Park in Northeast El Paso. Reclaimed water from the Fred Hervey Water Reclamation Plant is used for irrigation of ball fields, playgrounds and landscape. The park's first 16-acre phase was completed in 2005, with an approximate demand of 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 consisted of installing approximately 2200 linear feet of 12-inch and 4150 linear feet of 16-inch purple pipe.

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.