Encinitas Ranch Community Association Makes Move to Recycled Water

Encinitas, CA - The San Dieguito Water District, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, and Encinitas Ranch Community Association held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 26th at Las Verdes Park in Encinitas to mark the completion of the first phase of the Encinitas Ranch Recycled Water Project. The project, which will be constructed in multiple phases over two years, will ultimately conserve more than 14 million gallons per year of potable (drinking) water by converting irrigation systems of the community association, city walking trails, and Fox Point Farms to recycled water.

San Dieguito Water District and the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority have partnered to develop the project in collaboration with the water customers and the City of Encinitas. Encinitas Mayor, Kristin Gaspar, states “Conserving potable water through the use of recycled water at parks, businesses, and homeowner associations is good business and sound environmental policy.”

Recycled water for the project will be produced locally at the water reclamation facility in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, which is owned and operated by the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority. The San Dieguito Water District, which produces up to 50% of its water from local supplies, will retail the recycled water to the project customers at a cost less than potable water.

The Encinitas Ranch Community Association is one of the largest homeowner associations in Encinitas, comprised of six separate and distinct communities totaling 500 homes. The centerpiece of the association is the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course, which already uses recycled water. Dick Stern, HOA Board President, states “Although the HOA will invest more than $200,000 in this project, we calculate a very strong return on investment due to the lower cost of recycled water, plus we support the environmental stewardship it represents.”

“This project helps provide water sustainability to our community,” said Catherine Blakespear, Encinitas Council Member, “and it demonstrates the power of local government and the community working together to develop solutions.”

More than 80% off the water consumed in San Diego County is imported from the Colorado River and the Sacramento Bay Delta. Droughts, environmental concerns, and other stressors are increasing the cost of imported water and raising concerns for over-reliance on these supplies.

“Diversifying our water supply, especially with locally developed supplies, strengthens our water portfolio and provides greater cost control,” said Mark Muir, Encinitas Council Member.

San Elijo Joint Powers Authority has been producing recycled water since 2000 and produces nearly 500 million gallons per year. It was recognized as the Recycled Water Agency of the Year in 2016 by California WateReuse, for a mid-size agency.

San Dieguito Water District is a public agency that provides potable and recycled water to the communities of Old Encinitas, Cardiff, and Leucadia in the City of Encinitas. The District, established in 1922, serves approximately 37,000 customers and over 8.9 square miles.

San Elijo Joint Powers Authority provides water reclamation, wastewater treatment, and analytical laboratory services for the Cities of Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar, and portions of Rancho Santa Fe.

Media Contacts

Bill O’Donnell, General Manager, San Dieguito Water District, bodonnel@sdwd.org

Mike Thornton, General Manager, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, thornton@sejpa.org