Water district expects rise in groundwater use...

Water district expects rise in groundwater use

The Orange County Water District expects a substantial increase in

groundwater use in the future, according to a report released

Wednesday by the Orange County Grand Jury.

Total water use within the water district’s service area is

expected to increase by 20% by the year 2020, the report showed.

Excessive ground water withdrawals have caused water levels near the

coast to fall to more than 80 feet below sea level.

The Orange County Water District and the Orange County Sanitation

District are developing a project that will convert 100 million

gallons per day of wastewater into desalted, purified water. The

project, which is expected to provide a new source of fresh water, is

expected to replenish the county’s underground water supplies.

For more information about the Grand Jury report, visit

https://www.occourts.org/grndjury/gjreports.asp.