When will new recycled water projects be built?
The system will be expanded gradually in phased construction. During 2011, the District will be constructing a pipeline to the Napa State Hospital (NSH). The County of Napa is currently managing a project (Fall 2010) to design a further extension of that recycled water pipe from NSH to the MST area. The MST pipeline will be constructed when financing can be secured. Other potential expansion to the recycled water system would include service to customers in in-fill areas already served by recycled water, vineyards in the Jameson Canyon area, and to a hotel project and water district in the Carneros area.

How much will it cost to expand the Recycled Water Program, and how will it be paid for?
The District Board determined that the Recycled Water Program cannot be expanded at the sole expense of the District ratepayers. It is intended that Program expansion be paid for by multiple sources, such as state and/or federal grants, connection fees, benefit assessment district(s), user fees, and other sources of funding. For new recycled water projects, the District may require an agreement addressing both funding of the costs of expansion and a commitment to use recycled water.

What kind of grant funding is the District currently pursuing?
The District, in partnership with Napa County, is pursuing federal funding under Phase 1 of the North Bay Water Reuse Authority program. In addition, the District will utilize the State’s Proposition 50 grant funding for Napa State Hospital project if this grant funding is re-obtainable.

Will using recycled water be mandatory?
No, use of recycled water is voluntary. The District typically negotiates User Agreements with willing recycled water customers. The agreement specifies a minimum amount of recycled water delivered per year and the cost of the water and the term of the agreement, which may be up to 20 years. Because of the high cost of water recycling facilities (mainly pipelines), the use of User Agreements ensures that projects are economically feasible for the District.

Will recycled water users lose their water rights (to groundwater or surface water sources)?
No; as noted in Section 13551 of the California Water Code, the use of recycled water shall not cause any loss or diminution of any existing water right.

Where else is recycled water used?
There are many successful recycled water projects throughout California, the United States and around the world. For example, Monterey County farmers use recycled water for irrigating food crops. In Sonoma County over 6,400 acres of farmland and vineyards are irrigated with recycled water. Paramount's Great America, in Santa Clara County, uses recycled water to irrigate the amusement park's landscaped areas. In California alone, recycled water is used at more than 400 parks and playgrounds and 300 schools. And in Napa, more than 1,500 acres of vineyards, golf courses and landscaping are already being irrigated with recycled water.

What is the quality of the water?
The District's recycled water is treated to meet or exceed California Title 22 "disinfected tertiary recycled water" standards. That means it is the highest quality recycled water for its intended purpose of landscape and crop irrigation, and can also be used for such things as fire fighting, equipment wash-down and in cooling towers. Click here for more information.

Where will the pump stations be located, what will they look like and will they be noisy?
Booster pumping stations would be similar to typical municipal water supply well pumping stations. They would take up an area in the range of 400 to 800 square feet. The location could be anywhere along the length of a given pipeline segment.

Stations would typically be screened with concrete block or other type of appropriate fencing for the location. There would be an entrance gate for maintenance vehicle access. They can be designed to blend into surrounding environments.

Noise levels from electric motor pumps would be similar to a swimming pool pump and are typically not a nuisance provided the set-back from residential areas is adequate.

What is Napa doing to conserve water?
Napa has an aggressive Water Conservation Program that includes a high-efficiency toilet (HET) rebate program, water-efficient washing machine rebates, home audit surveys, restaurant faucet nozzle replacement programs and commercial landscape irrigation best management practices. To date, about 85% of Napa's water customers are using low-flow toilets.

Is the recycled water quality appropriate for growing grapes?
Recycled water quality varies at each treatment plant; however, the District's recycled water is treated to meet or exceed California Title 22 "disinfected tertiary recycled water" standards. In 2006, the UC Cooperative Extension completed a study of vineyard impacts associated with use of the District's recycled water. The study, which examined both recycled water quality and its impact on the soil, determined that the District’s recycled water is consistently under threshold values for vineyard constituents of concern. Seven vineyards in the Napa area have been successfully irrigating with the District's recycled water for many years.