Replenishing Infrastructure Investment Mike Markus of the Orange County Water District
6
Kris Polly: Please describe the current state of OCWD’s storage, delivery, and treatment infrastructure. Mike Markus: We manage a very large groundwater basin in central and northern Orange County that currently provides 75 percent of the total water demand of 2.5 million people. Here in Southern California, we only get about 14 inches of water a year. It is up to OCWD to capture and recharge as much water as we can, so we don’t overdraft our groundwater basin. MUNICIPAL WATER LEADER
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ORANGE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT.
Providing clean drinking water to nearly 2.5 million people in a region accustomed to less than 15 inches of precipitation annually is no small feat. Through its commitment to long-term planning and infrastructure investment, the Orange County Water District (OCWD) has done just that. OCWD wholesales groundwater to retail water agencies that serve Orange County. This year, OCWD is commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Groundwater Replenishment System CALIFORNIA (GWRS), the world’s largest potable reuse project. OCWD has developed a diverse supply portfolio Orange County to keep its aquifer healthy Water District and bring stability to its storage and distribution system. The primary sources of supply for the basin include Santa Ana River flows, rainfall, the GWRS, and imported water from the State Water Project and the Colorado River. The GWRS, which is a joint project of OCWD and the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD), alone generates enough water for 850,000 residents. OCWD General Manager Mike Markus, PE, knows the ins and outs of the GWRS. This year, Mr. Markus will be celebrating 30 years with the district. Over the span of his career, he oversaw the final design and construction of the original 70-million-gallon facility, as well as its subsequent expansion. Municipal Water Leader’s editor-in-chief, Kris Polly, spoke to Mr. Markus about the expansion of the GWRS, the value of infrastructure investment, and how to get big water projects done.
