$1.5 Million Federal Funding Approved by HouseAppropriations Subcommittee for Groundwater...

WASHINGTON, D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 15, 1999--

Congressman Ron Packard (R-Oceanside), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, Thursday announced that his panel has approved federal funds for several local water and flood control projects, including $1.5

"This is clearly one of the most important bills we will pass for Orange County and Southern California all year," said Packard. "So much of what happens in our community revolves around water."

The proposed Groundwater Replenishment System would provide Orange County with a new source of purified water that could serve 200,000 families each year. The system would take highly treated wastewater from the Orange County Sanitation District and purify it to near distilled water quality through 100% reverse osmosis, microfiltration and ultraviolet disinfection technologies. The water will then be injected into the county's vast groundwater basin, where it will percolate through the ground into deep underground aquifers. GWR System water will also be injected along the coast to prevent seawater intrusion into the groundwater basin.

The full house appropriations committee is expected to approve the bill Tuesday, according to Congressman Packard's office. The bill could be on the house floor within the next two weeks.

The Groundwater Replenishment System will be located on the joint water campus of the Orange County Water District and the Orange County Sanitation District in Fountain Valley, Calif.

For more information on the Groundwater Replenishment System, visit www.ocwd.com.