Morgan Hill and Gilroy
’s wastewater agency is being nationally recognized for taking
the waste out of wastewater.
Morgan Hill and Gilroy’s wastewater agency is being nationally recognized for taking the waste out of wastewater.
The South County Regional Wastewater Authority has been named Recycled Water Agency of the Year by the California chapter of the WateReuse Association. The award is given to an agency that demonstrates significant development of recycled water resources.
SCRWA’s senior engineer Jim Gasser said the agency landed the award in large part for its recycled water program at Christmas Hill Park and the future Gilroy sports park. Gasser said a recycled water reservoir near Eagle Ridge and a booster pump station at Christmas Hill Park are the key facilities of the program.
The recycled water reservoir was built in 1978, but had been taken out of service for several years. Now up and running, the system delivers recycled water to the fields and lawns of Christmas Hill Park and eventually the sports park.
“I’d say that’s the main reason we were awarded,” Gasser said. “But Santa Clara Valley Water District financed this. They need to be given credit, too.”
This is the first time SCRWA has won the award.
The water district nominated SCRWA for the award and a WateReuse committee reviewed the nominations to identify an agency qualified for it.
Credit, Gasser said, also goes to the operation and maintenance staff at the treatment plant for their consistent production of high-quality, recycled water. The sewage treatment facility, which is located on Southside Drive in Gilroy, serves Morgan Hill and Gilroy .
The SCRWA board is comprised of representatives from both communities.
