Survey Shows Recycling Water Favored Over Desalination Plant

Eight out of 10 customers in the Soquel Creek Water District like the idea of recycling wastewater for irrigation to prevent a water shortage, more than the number who favor building a desalination plant or importing water.

The finding came out in a water survey by Gene Bregman & Associates of 400 randomly selected district customers. Among the other results:

71 percent report they have low-flow toilets.
61 percent say they can’t do much more to conserve water.
52 percent regularly drink tap water.
51 percent rated future water supplies as a very serious problem.

The survey had a margin of error of 3-4 percent.

The district supplies its customers–in Capitola, Aptos, La Selva Beach, Opal Cliffs, Rio del Mar, Seascape and Soquel–water from wells, and the quantity of water pumped is more than the amount of rainfall replenishing the aquifer. As a result, district officials are seeking a new water source, like desalination, importing water or recycling, or some combination of these.

The district’s General Manager Laura Brown said support for recycling wastewater was so overwhelming that she wanted to make sure people understand what’s involved. "In some communities, people are resistant to the idea."

The survey placed future water supplies among the top three concerns, behind cost of housing, 72 percent, and traffic, 58 percent.

Water board President Bruce Daniels said, "It’s good to see people are taking this seriously as they should."

Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel