West Basin rehires United Water for water‑reuse plant

Suez subsidiary United Water has been awarded a renewed contract by West Basin Municipal Water District in California to continue to operate and maintain the Edward C Little Water Recycling Facility including four satellite plants.

United Water’s contract lasts for the next five years, representing nearly US$ 50 million.

Together the facilities represent the largest water recycling activity in their category in the USA; they are also the only ones in the world that can produce five different grades of recycled water.

The Edward C Little plant produces over 40 MGD (150,000 m³/d) of water for industrial and other uses. It produces approximately 12 MGD (45,000 m³/d) of highly purified indirect drinking water for use in a seawater intrusion barrier that protects local groundwater and also augments local groundwater supplies.

“Through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships, reuse is a real way of tackling the challenge to preserve water resources and alleviate water stress around the world,” concluded Marie-Ange Debon, deputy CEO of Suez Environnement in charge of the International Division. “Reuse is clearly a solution for the future, offering major avenues for improvement.”