Following extensive studies completed from 2009 to 2013, it was determined that the expansion of the tertiary treated water (recycled) distribution system (aka purple pipe) was not the best option for the City of Ventura. In Ventura, urban and agricultural irrigation is limited in demand with seasonal variability. Even if a purple pipe system was fully expanded throughout the City, the demand for irrigation-quality water would not offset, or equal, the amount of potable water (safe to drink) that could be added to the City’s water supply through potable water reuse.
Tertiary treated water (recycled), delivered in purple pipes, is limited in use and water quality. To utilize tertiary treated water, a dual system must be plumbed requiring a permit, backflow testing, inspection, and training. Due to the high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and chloride level in the water, tertiary treated water cannot be used in areas where hard water deposits would interfere or on crops with a low salt tolerance. In order for the City to expand its use of tertiary treated water, additional treatment would be required.
For these reasons, the City is pursuing VenturaWaterPure, a potable reuse project that will diversify Ventura’s water supply, secure a new locally owned water source, meet regulatory requirements, and improve water quality. The treatment of tertiary water to potable standards allows for the expansion of recycled water use to anything, including drinking water, and eliminates the need for a separate purple pipe system.