Montecito Water and Sanitary Districts Team Up

Strategic Planning Committee members from Montecito Water District (MWD) and Montecito Sanitary District (MSD) held their fourth Joint Committee meeting this year, focusing on Recycled Water. The agencies have joined forces in pursuit of innovative ways to improve water supply. General Managers Nick Turner (MWD) and Bradley Rahrer (MSD) presented progress to MWD Directors Ken Coates and Brian Goebel and MSD Directors Dorinne Johnson and Woody Barrett.

Together the two agencies have moved forward by defining and agreeing to cost-sharing on a project that will analyze four distinct approaches to achieve and optimize reuse of treated wastewater for the benefit of Montecito and Summerland. This combined effort will take the Recycled Water Facilities Plan completed by MWD in 2019 to the next level, with MSD assisting on pursuit of grant funding as applicable. The project focuses on potable reuse alternatives and will also consider local and regional partnerships with neighboring agencies in Summerland, Carpinteria and the City of Santa Barbara.

“Everybody wants recycling,” said Woody Barrett, MSD Board member. “…We’re on the 10-yard line is the way I look at it. This is exciting. Both Boards appreciate all the work the staff at both Districts are doing because this is a big undertaking.”

Recycled water is a critical water supply for California and a key resource for diversifying local supplies and improving long-term water resilience. Drought recurrence is reinforcing the need and urgency for the two agencies to identify the best method of maximizing water reuse capabilities in order to produce a new local drought-proof water supply for the community and reduce the discharge of treated wastewater to the ocean.

The Joint Strategic Planning Committee is scheduled to meet the first Tuesday of every month at 9:30 a.m. Please check the web site www.montecitowater.com or www.montsan.org to confirm meeting times as they are subject to change. Meetings may be accessed remotely and the public is encouraged to attend.