On October 20, 2014, state and local officials joined San Gabriel Valley Water Company and the City of Montebello in dedicating recycled water service to the 23-acre Grant Rea Park to irrigate the park’s turf and landscape areas. Officials emphasized the value of utilizing recycled water to the park, which conserves 18 million gallons of drinking water per year, in addition to “supporting the city’s ongoing efforts to implement environmentally friendly programs for the benefits of residents and the greater community.” The project was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California that helped to reduce the cost of retrofitting the park to accept recycled water.
“Being able to use recycled water for irrigation purposes allows us to maintain our parks while lessening the demand for imported or ground water supplies,” said Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia.
“In the midst of a severe drought, the recycled water project will alleviate the demand for potable water and is a huge win for the community,” said Assemblyman Ed Chau.
“This is an important day for Montebello residents,” said Mayor Pro Tem Jack Hadjinian. “It allows us to continue providing recreational space to our residents and conserving vital drinking water for them.”
The recycled water comes from the County Sanitation Districts’ San Jose Creek Reclamation Plant and is delivered through the Central Basin Municipal Water District’s Southeast Water Reliability Project.
