Chula Vista has been ranked as the seventh fastest growing city in the United States, and providing water resources to this vibrant city is a tremendous undertaking. Building for future growth in a creative and community sensitive way in the Southeastern part of San Diego County is a major objective of the Otay Water District.

Growth and change are inevitable, and in the past 10 years alone the second largest water district in San Diego County has seen its customer base grow at an average annual rate of 6 percent. Since 1998, more than 2,100 new accounts have been added each year, and it is anticipated that over the next 35 years the district's population will rise from 142,000 to 277,000.

To satisfy the water needs of the growing population, the Otay Water District has implemented a campaign that will invest more than $161 million in the next five years alone on capital improvements. It includes an agreement with the city of San Diego to purchase reclaimed water, the implementation of new technologies to streamline customer service and a partnership with the city of Chula Vista and EastLake Development to build a reservoir under a large multi-use park.

The Otay Water District is committed to community service. While its primary objective is to provide the community it serves with an adequate water supply, it is also strongly committed to doing so through the application of cooperative and innovative planning that adds value to its projects, the community and the environment.

The district currently reclaims more than 1 million gallons per day of wastewater and operates the largest reclaimed water distribution system in San Diego County. This recycled water is used to irrigate parks, golf courses, road medians and open space in eastern Chula Vista.

To increase the quantity of recycled water available to the South County, it is in the process of finalizing a landmark agreement with the city of San Diego to purchase recycled water from the city's South Bay Water Reclamation Facility. Under the terms of the agreement, the district will receive 6 million gallons of reclaimed water per day allowing its customers to irrigate even more using reclaimed water, which helps conserve potable water supplies.

To connect the city of San Diego's reclamation facility to the water agency's infrastructure, the district will soon begin construction of a 30-inch pipeline from Dairy Road to a reservoir north of Otay Valley Road.

The district, in partnership with the EastLake Development and the city of Chula Vista, completed construction of the recycled water reservoir portion of the Sunset View Park Project. The park, which is being built on top of the reservoir, will house two basketball courts, roller hockey facilities, two soccer fields and parking, while the pump station below will be capable of moving 7 million gallons of recycled water per day.

The Otay Water District recently completed work on the 3.4 million gallon reservoir in the EastLake community of South Bay. In partnership with the city of Chula Vista and EastLake Development, the underground reservoir and pumping station will be covered by Sunset View Park, which will include two soccer fields, roller hockey facilities and two basketball courts.

"We are pleased with the partnerships that have been formed with the surrounding cities and communities allowing us to better serve our customers," said Robert Griego, general manager. "These new projects will not only help the customers of today, but because they focus heavily on recycled and reclaimed water, future water users will also benefit."

Always seeking greater efficiency and improved customer service, the district has integrated the latest technological advances into all of its water systems. The Geographic Information System is a mapping and database system detailing the exact location and the type of facility or pipeline carrying water to customers. An Automated Meter Reading System is being installed in areas of new construction and being phased into existing communities to allow the district to monitor water usage via drive-by meter reading systems. Additionally, the new Otay Information System will be implemented, centralizing all customer information and providing customers with enhanced access to, and control of, their account.

A key feature of the Otay Information System includes a new business permitting system. The permitting system provides developers and staff with a predefined process, and does all costing and paperwork for new business permits. The system will allow developers to do business online, check the status of their projects from the Internet and print out fees and requirements for completing a permit. The system allows the district to streamline the business process, and ensure that new growth is met while keeping staff and costs at their current level.

Conservation is one of the key components in preserving our quality of life, and the Otay Water District furthers this by promoting measures such as water-wise landscaping known as Xeriscape, which can reduce outdoor water usage by 35 percent to 70 percent.

The district along with five other water agencies sponsors the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College. The garden, which features more than 400 varieties of low water use plants, also offers classes on gardening, landscape design and drip irrigation system installations. The purpose of the garden is to encourage people to voluntarily incorporate water saving techniques in their yards by showing examples of how landscaping can be water efficient and beautiful.

All these factors, combined with the district's financial strength, position it to serve the continued growth in the South County, and the addition of more customers. Growth and change are inevitable, but with the implementation of new technology, newly formed strategic partnerships and conservation, the district will continue to meet the needs of the area.

Schupp is executive vice president of Marston+Marston Inc.

Related Link

Otay Water District: www.otaywater.go