Ramona water district applies for grants for recycled water projects

By Karen Brainard

Focusing on recycled water projects, the Ramona Municipal Water District has submitted applications for grants through the Metropolitan Water District.

The grant program, called the Foundational Actions Funding Program, is for innovative technical studies or pilot projects related to resource development of recycled water.

“It is a very defined scope. We had a very short time to turn this around,” RMWD General Manager David Barnum told the board at its May 28 meeting.

The Met notified RMWD of the grant on May 20 and gave a May 28 deadline for applications.

RMWD submitted three proposals:

•A pilot project to reduce brine hauling and increase recycled water production at the San Vicente Wastewater Treatment Plant, estimated at $100,000.

•An analysis of RMWD’s ability to reduce brine production and hauling and help improve resource availability, estimated to cost $100,000.

•Study to increase recycled water use throughout the Santa Maria Sewer Service Area, projected to cost around $200,000.

Barnum said the improvements at the San Vicente plant could lead to a 30 percent decline in brine hauling and potential savings of $100,000 per year.

Expanding recycled water availability at the Santa Maria plant could result in less spraying of effluent and therefore less need for spray fields, said Barnum.

The Met will probably notify the district in a month whether it qualifies for a grant, according to the general manager.