United Water
West Basin Water Recycling System
Los Angeles County, California
West Basin Water District is a public agency serving the needs of nearly 900,000 people living in the
Los Angeles County area. In 1992, West Basin received state and federal funding to pursue its water recycling program which consisted of the construction of an advanced water treatment facility in El Segundo.
In July of 1993 United Water was awarded the contract for this 18-month startup project to be followed by a series of comprehensive professional services including operations and maintenance (O&M) of the water recycling program; operation of highly technical unit processes for treating wastewater to quality levels (drinking standards, ultra-pure water for refineries); laboratory services; research and development (R&D) project management (including water desalination); engineering and consulting services; design review; capital improvement planning and implementation followed by a series of contract renewals. The current 5-year contract was begun in
February 2005.
United Water served several key roles during the development of the facility. The objective of the program was to reclaim secondary quality effluent from the Hyperion Treatment Plant and treat it to Title 22 and drinking water standards. Title 22 water can be used in a variety of industrial and irrigation applications, where high-quality, but not necessarily potable, water is required. Additional water is processed through microfiltration followed by reverse osmosis to provide boiler feed water for three petroleum refineries.
United Water West Basin Recycling System employs 41 full time staff and 2 interns. These professionals are highly trained and motivated to operate and maintain the complex processes and equipment needed to produce five types of reclaimed water for the many uses of West Basin.
To both the credit of United Water and the West Basin Water District, this largest water recycling plant in the
United States has been named a National Research Center by the National Water Research Institute.
United Water also manages the District’s aggressive R&D program, focusing on microfiltration, reverse osmosis, water desalination and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection pilot projects.
As part of Suez, United Water also has access to global talent, technology and financial resources that are unequalled. In January 2005, Suez Environment (a division of Suez) introduced the R+i Alliance, a newly created entity that will select, fund and coordinate the execution of common research, development and innovation projects for its companies in the water business. Technology solutions and best practices developed by this R+i Alliance will ensure that United Water brings to its partners, including the West Basin Water Recycling System, the latest approaches to water and wastewater services. |
