The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is inviting public comment on draft environmental documents for the proposed Dublin San Ramon Services District Central Dublin Recycled Water Project.
The project would extend recycled water distribution pipelines and retrofit existing irrigation plumbing for schools, parks, streetscapes, and median strips in the Central Dublin area. The documents include Reclamation’s Environmental Assessment (www.usbr.gov) and its Finding of No Significant Impact (www.usbr.gov). Written comments are due by Aug. 11 and should be mailed to Douglas Kleinsmith, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825 or emailed to dkleinsmith@usbr.gov.
Kleinsmith can be reached at 916-978-5034.
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Why Extend Recycled Water to Central Dublin?
In its application to the Bureau of Reclamation for federal cost-sharing, DSRSD cited four primary reasons for extending recycled water distribution pipelines to Central Dublin:
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1. So more customers can use recycled water instead of potable (drinking) water to irrigate large landscaped areas;
2. To reduce the amount of drinking water imported into the Tri-Valley from the San Francisco Bay Delta and the State Water Project;
3. To reduce the amount of treated wastewater discharged into the San Francisco Bay; and,
4. To reduce DSRSD’s energy consumption and carbon footprint.
In addition, this project would lessen the need to develop new water supplies and offset water imported from the State Water Project by DSRSD’s wholesaler, the Zone 7 Water Agency. Offsets could reduce diversions, groundwater extractions, and energy use.
The new Central Dublin pipelines, which vary in size from 4- to 12-inches in diameter, would be buried within paved streets. They would connect to an existing “backbone” of the recycled water transmission system built in partnership with East Bay Municipal Utility District and deliver water produced at the partnership’s existing water recycling plant. The partnership began delivering recycled water to the San Ramon Valley in January 2006 and last year, in 2010, delivered 714 million gallons of recycled water to DSRSD and EBMUD customers, saving enough potable water to meet the annual needs of 6,075 families.
About DSRSD: Founded in 1953, the district serves 145,000 people, providing potable and recycled water service to Dublin and the Dougherty Valley area of San Ramon, wastewater collection and treatment to Dublin and south San Ramon, and wastewater treatment to Pleasanton (by contract). More information about the District can be obtained at www.dsrsd.com.
