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Los Alios Recycling Plant

Los Alisos Water Recycling Plant: Keeping our community green

The Los Alisos Water Recycling Plant turns water that goes down your drain into drought-proof water, primarily for landscape irrigation.

 

Opened:

1964

 

Expanded and upgraded:

2007

 

Location:

Lake Forest

 

Average daily output:

3.5 million gallons of recycled water

 

Capacity:

7.5 million gallons a day

 

One of two sources of IRWD recycled, along with Michelson Water Recycling Plant

 

Every gallon of recycled water saves a gallon of drinking water

 

Keeping our community green

The Los Alisos Water Recycling Plant has operated in Lake Forest since 1964.

Process advancements have increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness, giving the plant a maximum capacity of 7.5 million gallons per day. Improvements included the addition in 2007 of a new disinfection facility, a pumping station, a sodium hypochlorite building, pipelines, and upgrades to control and electrical systems.

 

How the recycling process works

At the Los Alisos Water Recycling Plant, your used water is treated in a multi-step process.

It starts with preliminary treatment and then passes through a series of five ponds — each providing a specific biological treatment:

  • Coagulation removes and breaks up suspended solids.
  • Flocculation bonds particles into loosely clumped masses.
  • Clarification lets these clumps of floc settle to the bottom of the pond.
  • Filtration removes suspended particles.
  • And finally, sodium hypochlorite disinfection eliminates any remaining harmful microorganisms.

At that point, the tertiary recycled water is suitable for non-drinking purposes, such as landscape irrigation and commercial/industrial use.

 

Photos

Frequently Asked Questions

IRWD is developing a Sewage Treatment Master Plan that will determine optimal locations and methods for conveying, treating, and distributing the District’s sewage and recycled water. A plan will include development of a long-term plan for the Los Alisos Water Recycling Plant and any necessary capital improvement projects.