South OC Water Districts Reviving Old Treatment Plant

A water treatment plant in Lake Forest that has been shuttered for decades will be brought back to life by five south Orange County water districts in an effort to stabilize water supplies in a region dependent on imported water.

The Orange County Register reported Wednesday that the design phase is nearing completion for the $79 million project that will transform the sprawling facility located on Listeria near Tamarisk Park into the Baker Water Treatment Plant.

The plant will be able to treat 28 million gallons of water a day from Irvine Lake when it is expected to begin operations in late 2015. The Moulton Niguel, Santa Margarita, Irvine Ranch, El Toro and Trabuco Canyon water districts are sharing the construction costs, and Irvine Ranch will operate it.

For a full report read the story by the Orange County Register.