• Recycled Water History
• Chapman Treatment Plant

The Otay Water District is firmly committed to expand the use of recycled water in order to minimize its overall demand for potable water, and currently has one of the largest recycled water distribution systems in San Diego County. The District operates the Ralph W. Chapman Water Recycling Facility in Rancho San Diego, which produces approximately 1.3 million gallons per day (MGD) of recycled water. In addition, in the fall of 2003, the District signed an agreement with the city of San Diego for the right to purchase up to 6 MGD of recycled water from the city's South Bay Water Reclamation Plant, located in San Ysidro. The District also acquired the right to purchase supply from the SBWRP that exceeds 6 mgd, if San Diego has available supply.

The agreement increased the District's recycled water available supply from just over 1 mgd to up to 7 mgd. The District also agreed to build the necessary transmission and related facilities from the SBWRP to the District's existing recycled water transmission system. In 2006, the District completed construction of the transmission system facilities and began taking delivery of the recycled water produced at the SBWRP. Ultimately, recycled water is expected to represent 11 to 15 percent of the District's total water supply.

As referenced in Section 26.04 of the District's Code of Ordinances, recycled water uses may include but are not limited to the irrigation of greenbelt and agricultural areas, filling of artificial lakes, and appropriate industrial and commercial uses.