SMWD Advanced Purified Water Facility Treats Recycled Water To Fill Lake Mission Viejo – Manuscript

Located in the City of Mission Viejo (City), California, Lake Mission Viejo is a 50.6 hectare (125-acre) man-made recreational lake that is owned and operated by the Lake Mission Viejo Association (LMVA). The Lake had been filled by natural sources (precipitation and groundwater) and potable water purchased from the Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD, District) since the 1970’s. At the height of the drought in early 2016, LMVA, SMWD and the City came together to develop an alternative to using drinking water to fill the lake. SMWD entered a design-build contract and constructed an ultrafiltration/reverse osmosis treatment facility with ultraviolet disinfection to treat recycled water for replacement of evaporation and percolation. The facility has been in operation since spring of 2017 replacing lake water lost to evaporation and percolation. The award-winning project is a great example of the benefits of public-public-private partnership and innovative project delivery.