Water recycling for irrigation/golf course update, Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay Review/Julia Reis, 7/9/15.  "SAM establishes aggressive timeline for recycled water.  Agency wants to use state financing."

Don't you just love how this golf course looks nothing like your lawn

"Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) officials say they would like a recycled water treatment facility up and running by March (2016).   ... After years of discussion about the possibility of bringing recycled water to the Coastside, the drought has reinvigorated talks between SAM, Coastside County Water District and potential recycled water customer Ocean Colony Partners. The Half Moon Bay Golf Links owner approached SAM about revisiting a 2010 proposal to provide recycled water for irrigation.  ....  ... The letter of intent stipulates that the facility would treat wastewater to a quality level sufficient for CCWD to distribute as recycled water to the golf course.

With California in its fourth year of drought, the state is encouraging municipalities to take on groundwater replenishment and recycled water projects by offering funding opportunities and loosening permit processes. Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed SB 88, which exempts the development and approval of building standards for recycled water or certain groundwater replenishment projects from the California Environmental Quality Act.  ....  Under SB 88 provisions, a project would be exempt if it does not affect wetlands or sensitive habitats and mitigates drought conditions. SB 88 would expire on Jan. 1, 2017, or when the governor’s state of emergency due to the drought expires, whichever comes first."  Read more.

Related article - Half Moon Bay Review/Mark Noack, 2/13/14, "What happened to recycled water?" Drought serves as reminder of forgotten project." .... "Just a few years ago, building a recycled water plant seemed like a certainty due to a rare constellation of public and political support. More than 80 percent of local voters had endorsed the idea of building a recycled water facility, giving a clear mandate to elected officials to make it a priority. In 2008, the Sewer Authority Midcoastside, the sanitary district jointly governed by Half Moon Bay and Midcoast agencies, was studying treatment systems with the idea that a fully operational plant would be up and running by 2013.

They already had a large customer lined up. Ocean Colony Partners, the operators of the Half Moon Bay Golf Links had signaled it was very interested in reclaimed water to irrigate the golf greens. Perhaps most importantly, sewer officials determined the hefty cost of the distribution system was already covered. An unused pipeline was located that was running two miles from the treatment plant down to Ocean Colony."

Reference.  CA Legislature,  Senate Bill 88.  Ocean Colony Partners, LLC, Carnoustie Homes,  Half Moon Bay Golf Links.  Related -  The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay.  Note photograph by Josh from Golf  IS Mental (simple insights into a complicated game), "Review: Half Moon Bay Golf Links (Ocean Course)".

Posted by Kathy Meeh