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The Otay Water District has a
history in water recycling that goes back nearly 40
years.
In the 1960s, Director Ralph
W. Chapman recognized the value of using this
resource and became a vocal advocate for water
recycling. Today, not only is it fitting that OWD’s
water recycling facility bear his name, the Ralph W.
Chapman Water Recycling Facility, but the District
has continued working to achieve his dream of
widespread recycled water use.
In the late 1960s, OWD began
water recycling with a small packaged treatment
plant affectionately named “Miss Stinky.” At this
time, however, there were few customers for recycled
water. It took until the early-1980s for Chapman’s
vision to take shape. As the EastLake I community
began construction in 1986, millions of gallons of
water were needed for soil compaction and dust
suppression. An inexpensive source of this water was
the Chapman facility.
By the early 1990s, Chula
Vista and OWD began requiring dual piping in new
developments such as EastLake Greens. One set of
pipes would supply drinking water for human
consumption, while the other would deliver recycled
water to irrigate common areas.
OWD has the largest recycled
water network in San Diego County today, and it
continues to expand. When the new supply link to the
South Bay Water Reclamation Plant comes online in
early 2007, recycled water used for irrigation will
equal approximately 15 to 20 percent of OWD’s total
water usage.
Ralph Chapman knew that one
day recycled water would be a low-cost, long-term
supply of new water that would help the region
offset its demand for imported water. Today, his
dream is being realized. As OWD celebrates its 50th
Anniversary, it is fitting to acknowledge the
contribution of one of OWD’s founding fathers and
honor his place in history.
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