These plants are not only capable of treating the wastewater to the secondary treatment necessary to discharge to the ocean but can apply tertiary treatment which allows the water to be utilized in the District's recycled water system. This has been achieved by innovative urban return projects as well as operating three wastewater reclamation plants. The District has one of the largest recycled water programs in Orange County. To provide additional security against long-term service interruption, the District is working with regional partners to develop regional water storage solutions. However, the District typically brings in 10 billion gallons of drinking water per year. Santa Margarita Water District has a storage capacity of almost 430 million gallons of drinking water which represents one of the largest storage capacities in Orange County. In order to provide more reliability, SMWD is working on an alternative water supply by 2030. The District is almost entirely reliant on imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The Santa Margarita Water District provides our customers with quality water and wastewater service – maximizing human, environmental, and financial resources – to help guide South Orange County’s water and wastewater needs into the next century. Santa Margarita Water District is committed to reducing its dependence on imported water by investing in local, reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective water supplies for today and generations to come. Nearly all the District’s drinking water supply is imported from hundreds of miles away. The District is the second largest retail water agency in Orange County, by area, and third largest by customers served. Santa Margarita Water District provides safe, reliable drinking water, recycled water and wastewater services to over 200,000 residents in nine unique communities: Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Juan Capistrano, and the communities of Coto de Caza, Las Flores, Ladera Ranch, Village of Sendero and Esencia, and Talega in San Clemente. Providing High-Quality Services Since 1964

Santa margarita water district grantham