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.
OCWD partners with the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD-Sanitation) on the Groundwater Replenishment System, treating sewer-derived water through microfiltration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet light, and hydrogen peroxide before injecting it into the seawater intrusion barrier and recharge basins in Anaheim. Output exceeds 130 million gallons per day. Many south county agencies separately deliver purple-pipe recycled water for irrigation of golf courses, parks, and HOA common areas. Cross-connection rules under California Title 17 prohibit any tie-in between recycled and potable plumbing without backflow prevention.
Cross-connecting recycled water to potable plumbing or drinking purple-pipe water can trigger Title 17 enforcement, fines, and shutoff until corrected.
See how Costa Mesa's recycled water rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.