Lysimeters assess regulatory compliance with recycled water recharge

Water agencies in Southern California are using lysimeters to expand and improve 19 recharge basins to enhance their ability to capture and recharge stormwater, recycled water, and imported water. The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) has spent US 75 million dollars, and is committed to spending another US 100 million dollars for recharge basin enhancement and expanded recycled water projects. US consultancy Wildermuth Environmental, Inc. (WEI) has recommended that the State Department of Health Service (DHS) should permit the use of lysimeters to monitor compliance with recharging permit. These lysimeters should be installed to ensure that samples collected while the recharge basin is being operated are truly representative of the recharged water.