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For Immediate Release
State Water Board Approves $2.9 million Grant to Redwood City Recycled Water Project
Redwood City, CA - July 24, 2007 – The Redwood City Recycled Water Project has been awarded a $2.9 million grant from the California State Water Resources Control Board that will help accelerate the installation of recycled water pipeline.
This grant will assist in the installation of approximately 29,000 linear feet of recycled water distribution pipeline along the east side of Highway 101 on the Greater Bayfront and Seaport areas. This grant is approximately 25% of the selected area’s project construction cost, and reduces the actual project cost to the City.
The City acknowledges support from the Seaport Industrial Association and its executive director Greg Greenway, and the Commissioners and staff of the Port of Redwood City, for their tireless work that was critical in gaining this grant for Redwood City.
The Redwood City Recycled Water Project will replace the existing use of potable water from the City and County of San Francisco’s regional system, operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), and will augment the state water supply by providing recycled water to customers within the City’s service area. The overall Project is expected to save approximately 900 acre-feet (about 300 million gallons) of drinking water annually by meeting significant landscape irrigation and industrial demand with recycled water by 2010. The project will help Redwood City meet its long-term water supply needs while increasing its overall supply reliability.
On June 28, 2007, a special celebration was hosted at the Sofitel San Francisco Bay in Redwood Shores (the City’s first customer for the new recycled water project) to mark the occasion of “Getting Connected” as the first gallons of recycled water flowed through the City’s expanded system. This was a significant milestone for Redwood City’s efforts to preserve millions of gallons of drinking water for the community’s use, especially in light of the impending drought in California.
The system is designed with the flexibility to accommodate new opportunities and new customers. Redwood City applauds its first customers for their dedication to the entire community’s quality of life, and their commitment to environmental stewardship. Every gallon of recycled water used for irrigation or industrial purposes saves one gallon of drinking water for the community’s use inside our homes, hospitals, and schools. In the event of a drought, those gallons of drinking water will be even more important to the community of Redwood City, both for today and for the generations to come. And, by reusing treated water we reduce the amount of non-salt water that SBSA will discharge to the San Francisco Bay, which is highly sensitive to the discharge of any fresh water — even clean or highly-treated wastewater. More information on this and Redwood City’s other water supply and conservation efforts is available online at www.redwoodcity.org/water.
Visit Redwood City’s award-winning website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, and local business. Take a look at the variety of City webcams at www.redwoodcity.org/webcam, and subscribe to Redwood City’s email newsletter and other City documents by visiting www.redwoodcity.org/egov.
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Contact:
Peter Ingram
Director, Community Development Services
(650) 780- 7241
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