Pipeline to bring recycled water to school playing fields

The Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District plans to construct a pipeline to provide recycled water to to irrigate playing fields at Sonoma Valley High, Adele Harrison Middle and Prestwood Elementary schools.

The recycled water will also be used to irrigate Sonoma Valley Oaks Park on Engler Street, and there will opportunities for agricultural users along the pipeline route to connect to the system.

Project design, permitting and agreements are scheduled for this year, and project construction is expected to start in 2016.

It is anticipated that recycled water delivery could start as early as winter 2016-17.

The pipeline route is along 5th Street East between Watmaugh Road and Denmark Street and continuing west on Denmark Street to the Sonoma Valley High School.

The use of recycled water will stretch existing water supplies, improve declining groundwater levels, and provide drought relief, according to the District. More than half of Sonoma Valley’s water supply comes from groundwater.

Groundwater levels have declined in parts of the Sonoma Valley, and there are areas in the south end of the Valley where saltwater intrusion threatens groundwater quality.

Using recycled water to irrigate crops and landscaping will reduce groundwater pumping and allow aquifers to recover,according to the District.

Urban demand in Sonoma is primarily met through imported Russian River water.