City of Santa Rosa, CA
03/28/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/28/2024 15:12
City Manager’s Project Update
As your City Manager, I am pleased to highlight Santa Rosa Water's proactive approach to improving wastewater treatment and recycling through the Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection Replacement Project at the Laguna Treatment Plant (Plant). The project, aimed at replacing the aging UV disinfection system currently in use, is on track for completion by late 2025. This initiative represents one of several major capital improvement projects to ensure a safe and dependable water system for our community.
Serving approximately 230,000 people, the Plant handles wastewater from Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Sebastopol, and South Park County Sanitation District. It produces roughly 7 billion gallons of recycled water yearly - about 19 million gallons per day. Almost 100% of this recycled water is reused annually for urban and agricultural irrigation, and recharging Calpine's geysers steamfields, contributing to clean and renewable energy for the region.
Recognizing the importance of maintaining innovative and reliable water recycling infrastructure, Santa Rosa broke ground in October 2022 on the $68 million UV Replacement Project. UV disinfection is the final stage in the water recycling process and is crucial for ensuring the safety of recycled water by disabling disease-causing organisms.
The benefits of the new UV system are multifaceted. The system will be more energy-efficient, saving an anticipated $442,000 per year in electricity costs while offering improved redundancy and system resiliency. Installation of diversion pumps will allow water to be redirected back through the Plant for retreatment in the event of equipment failure or plant upset, providing much-needed flexibility during large storm surges.
This project underscores Santa Rosa Water's dedication to innovation and sustainability. By embracing the latest technology and design improvements, this project will ensure that our communities can continue to rely on the Plant for water recycling and reuse for years to come.