The Foothill Municipal Water District (FMWD) and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles are partnering to look at building a membrane bioreactor (MBR) plant to increase water supplies.

Such a plant would use biological means, membranes and ultraviolet light to treat wastewater before it is injected into groundwater to be further treated through natural filtering.  

“The earth recycles all water. By constructing an MBR plant, FMWD is simply helping speed up the natural processes of the earth,” said Nina Jazmadarian, General Manager of FMWD. “This small-scale plant will help reduce the District’s dependence on imported water, help meet the legislative mandate to reduce water use by 20% by year 2020 and ultimately cost less than imported water supplies,” said Richard Atwater, President of the FMWD Board.

The study has also received a $75,000 grant from the State Water Resources Control Board. “Expanding the use of recycled water supplies is of great importance to the Sanitation Districts, and we appreciate the Foothill Municipal Water District’s efforts in this regard” said Stephen R. Maguin, chief engineer and general manager of the Sanitation Districts.

Foothill Municipal Water District provides imported water to Lincoln Avenue Water Company, Las Flores Water Company and Rubio Cañon Land & Water Association serving Altadena, as well as the Crescenta Valley Water District, La Cañada Irrigation District, Mesa Crest Water Company, and Valley Water Company. Information regarding Foothill Municipal Water District can be found at www.fmwd.com.