World Water Day is celebrated on March 22 every year. Here at OC San we recognize the importance and necessity of water, as we treat over 180 million gallons of wastewater a day from central and northern Orange County residents and businesses.

This year’s World Water Day theme is Making the Invisible Visible. The perfect theme to highlight the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). In 2008, in partnership with the Orange County Water District we launched the world’s largest water purification system for indirect potable reuse known as  GWRS.

GWRS is a water recycling project that supplements existing water supplies by providing a new, reliable, high-quality source of water to recharge the Orange County groundwater basin and to protect it from seawater intrusion. There are currently plans in place to expand the GWRS to increase water production from 100 to 130 million gallons per day. The Final Expansion requires four main projects, all currently in construction at OC San’s Huntington Beach plant.

It is important to recognize the importance of groundwater not only on World Water Day, but every day. Groundwater will play a critical role in adapting to climate change. We need to work together to sustainably manage this precious resource for human and environmental needs.

To learn more about this important day please visit www.worldwaterday.org.