Published: Jun 28, 2013 | 21:09 PM

Partnership Conserves Local Drinking Water Supply

After three-year process, industrial customer becomes IRWD’s largest consumer of recycled water, helping preserve the drinking water supply

Fortistar Methane Group, owner / operator of a Newport Coast 21 Megawatt gas-to-energy facility located at the Coyote Canyon landfill, is now the largest industrial consumer of recycled water in the Irvine Ranch Water District service area, continuing IRWD’s commitment to innovative recycled water use.  

Fortistar, which converts landfill methane into electricity, switched from potable water to recycled water for most of their non-potable purposes, including the supply of water to its cooling tower, in February.    

 “IRWD is pleased that Fortistar has chosen the environmentally-friendly and water conscious decision to switch to recycled water,” said IRWD General Manager, Paul Jones. “When industrial customers switch to recycled water for non-potable purposes they help to increase the reliability of our limited drinking water supply and they save money—it’s a win-win situation!”   

The three-year long process to connect Fortistar to IRWD’s recycled water distribution system was a team effort involving Fortistar, Orange County Waste & Recycling, the City of Newport Beach and the Newport Beach Fire Department.  All industrial consumers receive recycled water at a discounted rate from potable water.

“One of the more significant issues we face today is how to secure our growing energy needs in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way,” said Tom Gesicki, Managing Director of Fortistar. “We are pleased to be working directly with IRWD and support their initiatives to increase the use of recycled water in and around the Newport Coast.”

IRWD hopes to encourage more industrial customers to consider recycled water for all their non-potable needs. Recycled water is already used in the IRWD service area for agricultural and landscape irrigation, toilet flushing and cooling towers in dozens of dual-plumbed buildings, and for industrial processes including concrete making.  

 The extensive IRWD recycled water program extends drinking water supplies, reduces the need for additional potable water facilities, reduces the amount of treated wastewater discharged into the ocean, and reduces reliance on costly imported water supplies.

Commercial customers can switch to recycled water if their system can be connected to the recycled water pipe system. Companies not only benefit by being environmentally-friendly, but also receive a discount on their water bill.  If your company is interested in connecting to IRWD’s recycled water system and think your property may be eligible, please contact Alex Harris, Recycled Water Supervisor at (949) 453-5576 or harris@irwd.com, to discuss your options. 

For more on IRWD’s recycled water programs, please visit our website.

For more information on Fortistar, please visit www.fortistar.com .