Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) has received an $8.9 million grant from the United States Bureau of Reclamation towards the expansion of its Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility. The grant is a part of the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Program which funds the planning, design, and construction of water recycling and reuse projects.
EVMWD is one of only two recipients selected to receive WaterSMART’s Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse funding in the most recent cycle. EVMWD received $8.9 million out of the total $9.5 million awarded this year.
With the growth in the area projected to increase nearly 50 percent over the next 25 years, water consumption and wastewater production will place a greater demand on EVMWD’s system.
The expansion of EVMWD’s regional facility will increase capacity, upgrade treatment processes and improve efficiency. By expanding its regional facility to treat an additional four million gallons of wastewater each day, EVMWD will be able to support population growth and produce an increased supply of recycled water. In turn, this will reduce dependence upon imported drinking water sources that would typically be used for irrigation.
The project, which is in the construction phase at this time with completion anticipated in 2024, has received a total of $138.8 million in grants and low-interest loans.
“We are very grateful to the Bureau of Reclamation for their generous support of our regional expansion project,” said Phil Williams, president of the EVMWD Board of Directors. “As our community continues to grow, these improvements will help us to meet projected demand and diversify available water supplies, ensuring reliable service both now and in the future.”
EVMWD provides service to over 155,000 water and wastewater customers in a 97-square mile service area in Western Riverside County.
