Expanding capacity
The plant was first designed for 3 mgd but expanded to 8 mgd in 2014 to supply local water instead of imports. The upgrade was completed without adding extra waste, solving sewer capacity issues.
Client
WRD of Southern California
Location
Long Beach, California
Markets
Priorities
Groundwater protection in action
The Water Replenishment District of Southern California manages groundwater for over 4 million residents in Los Angeles County. It protects the Central and West Coast basins by replenishing them with imported and recycled water through seawater intrusion barriers. We worked with the Leo J. Vander Lans facility to expand treatment capacity without increasing waste flows. The plant purifies treated water and injects it into the Alamitos Barrier to prevent seawater contamination.
Enhancing the treatment process
We added a third-stage brine recovery system to raise RO recovery to 92.5%, cutting brine flow in half. With booster pumps and permeate flush, the plant ran for two years without cleaning.
UV/AOP innovation
The enhanced UV system uses advanced oxidation to eliminate emerging contaminants.
Securing a region’s future
This project supports the Water Independence Now (WIN) program, aimed at reducing reliance on imported water.
By creating a reliable and cost-effective source of potable water, the district advanced its goal of achieving full independence from imported supplies. Today, Vander Lans operates with the lowest waste flow of any advanced potable reuse facility worldwide and delivers high quality water to replenish Southern Los Angeles County’s stressed aquifer. “Using recycled water to replenish the Alamitos Barrier was a critical step forward in preserving California’s precious water resources,” says Wetterau. “Not only has a strong Alamitos Barrier prevented seawater intrusion, but we are now able to conserve the potable water we once used to strengthen that barrier.”
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Client
WRD of Southern California
Location
Long Beach, California