Treatment
How Replenish Big Bear creates a new clean water resource
Recovering our lost water
Recycled water is an underutilized resource with an abundance of untapped potential! Sometimes referred to as water reuse, recycled water is a local and consistent supply that supplements existing water supplies even during dry years and offers a reliable water source to communities.
Millions of gallons of water leave the valley each year as wastewater. Replenish Big Bear captures this lost water source, treats it using proven advanced water treatment methods, and returns clean, recycled water back to our environment— providing Big Bear with a sustainable water supply.
Why use recycled water?
Cost effective
Reusing water can be more cost effective than developing alternative supplies.
Sustainable
Reusing water alleviates pressure on freshwater sources, like groundwater.
Safe
Water is treated to meet stringent state and federal water quality standards.
Did you know?
Each day
Nearly
Only
For more than
1 billion gallons
of treated wastewater is recycled in the United States
100%
of the water that goes down a home's drain has the potential to be reused
3%
100 years
of Earth's water is fresh water
California has been reusing and recycling water
A proven water treatment process
Several additional treatment steps to Big Bear’s existing treatment process will use proven technology to achieve safe, high quality water that exceeds drinking water quality standards.
Specialized biological processes and chemical treatment remove most of the organics, nitrogen, and phosphorus from the water.
Filtration
A filtration process uses either permeable membranes or granular media to remove suspended solids and bacteria from the treated water as it passes through the filter.
Reverse osmosis
Water is forced under high pressure through reverse osmosis membranes to remove impurities, including salts, bacteria, viruses, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products.
UV disinfection
High-intensity UV light disinfects the water by deactivating any bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms so they are rendered harmless.
Nutrient removal
800
Proposed infrastructure upgrades
Federal and state funding is being pursued to make the necessary improvements to provide Big Bear Valley with a reliable, high quality water source. Proposed infrastructure improvements include:
NEW & EXTENDED PIPELINES
New pipeline and extensions to existing pipeline will be constructed to deliver water to Shay Pond, Stanfield Marsh, and Sand Canyon.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY UPGRADES
Upgraded advanced water treatment technology will purify water to exceed the highest water quality standards.
NEW PUMP
STATION
Two new pump stations will direct purified water to Shay Pond and Stanfield Marsh.