Celebrating upgrades to local water reclamation plant

Fallbrook Public Utility District general manager Brian Brady discusses the newly-upgraded water reclamation plant during a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony held at the facility on Dec. 15. The plant is located on Alturas Rd., south of Ammunition Rd. Shane Gibson photos

Fallbrook Public Utility District assistant general manager Jack Bebee describes the work involved constructing the upgraded water reclamation plant on Dec. 15 at a celebratory ceremony at the site. The project took about 2-1/2 years and cost $25.5 million, which is being paid for through a low-interest state revolving fund loan.

Longest standing FPUD board member and current vice president Milt Davies stands at an important section of the water reclamation process at the newly upgraded FPUD facility. Currently 40 percent of sewage water is being recycled into "gray water" for irrigation purposes. FPUD has a projected goal of recycling 80 percent of sewage water into "gray water".

Guests attending the FPUD water reclamation plant dedication ceremony receive tours of the facility to view the more efficient and modernized water processing involved at the water plant. The facility is located on Alturas Rd., south of Ammunition Rd.

One of FPUD's water clarifier tanks is shown at the bottom left. Clarifier tanks remove solid particulates in the water. Sludge settles at the bottom of the tank and particulates that float on the surface are called scum.

FPUD's aeration basin artificially agitates the water which continues the breakdown process of waste held in the water.

Guests attending the newly-upgraded FPUD water reclamation plant dedication ceremony continue their tour around the water processing facility on Dec. 15.

FPUD workers embrace the new, spacious maintenance shop at the water reclamation plant in Fallbrook. Upgrades to the facility took about 2-1/2 years.