Water Resources Division Annual Report FY 2015-2016 | Page 17

WESTSIDE RECYCLED WATER PROJECT
On the west side of San Francisco, the SFPUC plans
to save approximately 2 mgd of drinking water that
is currently used for non-drinking purposes such as
irrigation and lake fill. The Westside Recycled Water
Project includes construction of a new recycled
water treatment facility within the Oceanside
Water Pollution Control Plant, along with storage
reservoirs, pump stations, and pipelines to deliver
recycled water. The water produced by this project
will be used primarily to irrigate Golden Gate Park,
Lincoln Park Golf Course, Presidio Golf Course,
and other landscaped areas. Environmental review
and design have been completed; the project
Environmental Impact Report was certified by the
Planning Commission and approved by the SFPUC’s
Commission in September 2015. Construction is
anticipated to begin in early 2017, with the goal of
delivering recycled water to customers in early 2020.

Aerial view of the Westside Recycled Water
Treatment Plant architectural design.

PURIFIED WATER PROGRAM
The SFPUC is working collaboratively with regional water and wastewater agencies, as well as research organizations,
regulatory agencies and field experts, to explore the feasibility of purified water projects through direct and indirect potable
water reuse. With scientific and regulatory advances in this field, and through highly advanced treatment and monitoring,
recycled water can be treated to drinking water standards. The SFPUC is keen to understand what role purified water can
play for the future in its service area to better adapt to future water supply uncertainties, droughts, and emergencies. In
2017, the SFPUC will be piloting a purified water research project at its headquarters in San Francisco in partnership with
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), Water Research Foundation (WRF), and Water Environment & Reuse Foundation
(WE&RF). The SFPUC is also working with partners in the South Bay to evaluate the feasibility of purified water projects.

Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Treatment

Critical Control Point
Monitoring Locations

Constructed Wetland System
Raw Wastewater

(Reduces Total Suspended Solids
and Turbidity)

Filtration Processes

Advanced Oxidation
Process

Engineered Storage Buffer
Tank 1

Tank 2

Tank 3

filling

testing

emptying

UV
Ultra-Filtration

Reverse Osmosis

(Filters Bacteria)

(Filters Pathogens, Removes Trace
pollutants, Removes Salts)

NaOCl
(Destroys Pathogens
and Trace Pollutants)
Distribution

An example of an advanced treatment train for purified water.

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