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πŸ’§ Water Use Rules/Recycled Water Rules

Orange vs Santa Ana

How do recycled water rules rules compare between Orange, CA and Santa Ana, CA?

Orange and Santa Ana have similar restriction levels.

Orange, CA

Orange County

Few Restrictions

Orange County operates the world's largest potable water reuse system, the Groundwater Replenishment System, blending advanced-treated wastewater into the basin that supplies most of north and central county.

View full Orange rules β†’

Santa Ana, CA

Orange County

Few Restrictions

Orange County operates the world's largest potable water reuse system, the Groundwater Replenishment System, blending advanced-treated wastewater into the basin that supplies most of north and central county.

View full Santa Ana rules β†’

Key Facts Comparison

FactOrangeSanta Ana
GWRS capacity130+ MGD130+ MGD
OperatorsOCWD and OCSDOCWD and OCSD
Treatment stepsMF, RO, UV/H2O2MF, RO, UV/H2O2
CodeCA Title 17CA Title 17

Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.

Orange FAQ

Is recycled water safe to drink?

GWRS water meets or exceeds drinking water standards but is injected to the aquifer first for additional travel time and blending before reaching customer taps.

What is purple-pipe water?

Recycled water for irrigation only, identified by purple pipes and signage. It is not for drinking, cooking, or filling pools, and requires cross-connection control.

Santa Ana FAQ

Is recycled water safe to drink?

GWRS water meets or exceeds drinking water standards but is injected to the aquifer first for additional travel time and blending before reaching customer taps.

What is purple-pipe water?

Recycled water for irrigation only, identified by purple pipes and signage. It is not for drinking, cooking, or filling pools, and requires cross-connection control.

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