Pictured Above: Last fall, community leaders, city representatives and members of the Palos Verdes Golf Club gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Palos Verdes Recycled Water Pipeline Project.
A 101-year-old Palos Verdes Estates landmark will continue to serve the community’s recreational needs for years to come, thanks to a historic step forward in regional sustainability.
Approximately 3.5 miles of new pipeline from an existing West Basin Municipal Water District’s water main in Torrance now delivers an annual supply of 210 acre-feet of recycled water to irrigate the fairways and greens of the Palos Verdes Golf Club. Previously, the club relied on potable drinking water. The recently completed Palos Verdes Recycled Water Pipeline Project—made possible through a partnership between West Basin, the Palos Verdes Golf Club, California Water Service, and the cities of Torrance and Palos Verdes Estates—will help conserve millions of gallons of drinking water each year.
“In concert with the residents of Palos Verdes Estates, our city council and staff are so proud of the 25 years of collaboration to complete the Palos Verdes Recycled Water Pipeline Project, aka The Purple Pipe,” said Craig Quinn, Palos Verdes Estates council member and SBCCOG board delegate. “This project will save an estimated 60 million gallons of drinkable water per year. It’s a huge win for our community and the surrounding area.”
The 15 to 30 acre-feet of potable water saved per year will support two parks and a school in the City of Torrance, extending the environmental benefit throughout the community. The project will also have the far-reaching effect of reducing the area’s dependence on imported water from Northern California and the Colorado River. Over time, it is expected to reduce future costs for developing new potable water sources for customers of Cal Water, the drinking water supplier for Palos Verdes Estates.
The pipeline coincided with the installation of a new pump station at Lago Seco Park in Torrance designed to move recycled water to the higher elevations of expanded service areas.
The project was supported by $2 million in grant funding from the California Department of Water Resources, with an additional $2.5 million investment by Cal Water. •
For more information, bit.ly/westbasinpvrecycledwater