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Regional water agencies outline $270 million plan to expand recycled-water recharge
Summary
Inland Empire Utilities Agency and Cucamonga Valley Water District told Rancho Cucamonga officials they plan an advanced‑treatment demonstration and a Chino Basin program backed by about $270 million in state funding to increase recycled‑water recharge and regional supply reliability.
Kevin Alexander, acting general manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, told the Rancho Cucamonga City Council on March 18 that the wholesale wastewater and water‑treatment agency serves about 950,000 people across roughly 242 square miles and delivers recycling and recharge services to member agencies.
"We are located here in San Bernardino County...we serve about 242 square miles," Alexander said, outlining IUA operations that include wastewater collection and treatment, recycled‑water distribution, groundwater recharge basins and a certified bio‑based composting product produced from biosolids at a facility in Rancho Cucamonga.
Alexander said the agency currently delivers about 34,000 acre‑feet of recycled water within the region and operates 46 recharge basins across 19 recharge sites. He said the agency is planning an advanced‑treatment project because regulations require higher treatment for direct injection into groundwater and because advanced treatment removes constituents such as PFAS.
"It does remove all of that," Alexander said of advanced treatment, adding that the project would allow water to be returned to the ground at drinking‑water quality.
Eduardo Espinosa, representing Cucamonga Valley Water District, said CVWD relies on imported water for about 40% of supply in an average year and views recycled water and recharge as critical to resilience when imported supplies are constrained.
"Recycled water has become a key part of our water supply portfolio," Espinosa said, describing the Chino Basin program as a state‑backed investment to store and extract water when imported supplies are limited.
Presenters told the council they have secured about $270,000,000 in state funding to date for the regional effort, and they plan a demonstration project at an IUA facility in Rancho Cucamonga toward the end of the year to show advanced‑treatment technology in operation.
Council members pressed on equity of recycled‑water delivery to the city's northern neighborhoods. Presenters acknowledged infrastructure and energy constraints that make it difficult to move recycled water long distances uphill, and they said planned pipeline and advanced‑treatment projects aim to expand access.
The council received the presentation; presenters invited city staff and residents to upcoming tours and said they will continue outreach as projects advance.
