Temecula Saves Water by Converting Local Irrigation to Recycled Water by Rancho California Water District Jul 28, 2022 Member Submitted News TEMECULA – With the assistance of a Department of Water Resources (DWR) grant, Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water/District) and the City of Temecula (Temecula/City) have converted nearly 330,000 square feet of landscaped area to recycled water, saving the City thousands of gallons of water. Temecula and Rancho Water began work on a “Recycled Water Conversion Project” in July 2017 to convert existing potable (or drinkable) water irrigation systems to efficient recycled water systems. This project included the installation of drip components, high efficiency nozzles, and smart irrigation controllers for landscaped areas in the communities of Temeku Hills and Crowne Hill including Butterfield Stage landscape medians. Additionally, all City parks and roadway landscape areas within the Harveston neighborhood are irrigated with reclaimed water, including Harveston Lake. Temecula Mayor Matt Rahn states, “Rancho Water and the City are continuously identifying water efficiency options to protect and conserve our region’s water supply. Over the last five years, Rancho Water proactively expanded their recycled waterlines allowing the City to gain access to reclaimed water to convert City landscaped areas.” Next on the City’s list to convert to reclaimed waterlines is Kent Hintergardt Memorial Park. Additionally, the City replaced turf areas with water efficient landscape at Winchester Creek Park and Sam Hicks Monument Park, and is doing so in other parks including passive turf areas within The Temecula Duck Pond, Serena Hills Park, Riverton Park, Loma Linda Park, Meadows Park, and Voorburg Park. “The City of Temecula has always been one of Rancho Water’s forward-thinking partners,” said Rancho Water Board of Directors President Carol Lee Gonzales-Brady. “California’s ongoing drought calls for us to think innovatively, pursuing projects that will result in long-term solutions and water reliability. By converting so many developments to recycled water, the City shows its commitment to collaborating with Rancho Water on important water saving measures.” More than 75% (approximately $426,000) of the total cost of $568,000 spent on Temecula’s Recycled Water Conversion Project was funded by a generous grant from the Department of Water Resources, and serves as an example of the ongoing efforts between Rancho Water and the City of Temecula to continuously improve upon water efficiencies throughout the community. Rancho Water collects, treats, and recycles wastewater at its Santa Rosa Water Reclamation Facility in Murrieta. The plant services residents and businesses in the Temecula, Murrieta, and Wildomar communities and treats approximately one billion gallons of wastewater annually, which is the source of the District’s recycled water. This highly treated water supply source is used to irrigate most golf courses, large landscaped areas, schools, parks, and greenbelts in the Rancho Water service area. For more information about Rancho Water and upcoming construction projects, and opportunities for residents and businesses to save water and money, visit RanchoWater.com.