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How Do We Squeeze Lemons and What Do We Do with the Peels? Can technology transform produced waters into new supplies, at a competitive cost and without environmental damage or added liability? Lynn Takaichi, Kennedy /Jenks Consultants San Francisco, California Can technology transform produced water into new sup- plies, at a competitive cost and without environmental damage or added liability? Clearly there are individual projects that have successfully met these criteria. I think the real question at hand is: can we make produced water reclamation live up to its full potential? One project that can serve as an interesting case study is the Santa Clarita Water Agency (CLWA). s A � MD Major Rivers z Projects s F� Federal Local Projects �,. Figure 1. Santa Clarita Water Agency and Other Water Projects Statewide In California The CLWA has a service area of approximately 195 square miles, located predominately in northwest Los Angeles County, and a small uninhabited area of eastern Ventura County. Cur- rently, the service population is approximately 240,000 people. Current water demands are approximately 90,000 acre -feet per year, of which 50,000 acre -feet is imported. New housing units are 2,500 per year, which translates to about 2,200 acre -feet per year of new demand. It is also the home to one of the largest subdivisions in Los Angeles County called Newhall Ranch, which has planned for 21,000 housing units, and it's just begin- ning. Because of this growth rate, the agency has been very active in seeking out new water supplies. Over the last 10 to 15 years it has executed water transfers totaling some 65,000 acre -feet per year. It's also implementing a recycled water program, which is going to total some 17,000 acre -feet per year. Figure 1 shows the location of the water agency and the extensive number of water projects in California. History of Produced Water Reuse at CLWA Produced water reuse at CLWA began in the early 1990s, and declined in the late 1990s with a decline in oil prices and reduced production at the oilfields. In the early 2000s, with an increase in oil prices, produced water again became available. In 2003, we updated our recycled water master plan to incor- porate produced water as a potential water source. In 2004 we initiated an Environmental Impact Report – the California equivalent of an Environmental Impact Statement —which should be completed this fall. Project Funding The research project is interesting in its scope, results and the interaction between the petroleum industry and the water industry. Funding for the project comes from agencies and organizations interested in petroleum development, electricity production, water resource development, and water quality.