LANCASTER GETS RECYCLED WATER.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- Construction is expected to begin next month on a $5.1 million pipeline that will carry water purified from Lancaster's sewage to irrigate park ball fields and other city landscaping.

The 24-inch diameter pipeline will connect to a sewage treatment plant pipeline under Avenue E and runs 4.5 miles down Division Street to Lancaster Boulevard.

``In the short term, it will handle 1.5 million gallons a day,'' said Steve Dassler, assistant public works director.

The project could ultimately be the first phase of a $110 million citywide water recycling network. A master plan for water recycling prepared by RMC Water and Environmental shows a citywide system capable by 2012 of handling 6,000 acre-feet a year, roughly the amount used by 6,000 households.

City officials said such a network could meet the needs of an increasing population, reduce overdrafting of the region's groundwater, and ease the burden on the sanitation district.

Engineered Plumbing Inc. was awarded the contract in a vote last week by the City Council. Construction is anticipated to begin in August and be completed by January. The work will include providing storage and pumping facilities at Division Street and Avenue H-8.

The initial use for the recycled water will be a baseball complex being established at the former Antelope Valley Fairgrounds property at Division Street and Avenue I.

City officials are in talks with other potential users, including the Lancaster landfill owner, Antelope Valley Union High School District officials and Lancaster Cemetery officials.

The city will be reimbursed for up to $3.4 million of the project cost by Los Angeles County. City officials originally had planned for a 16-inch diameter pipeline, but went with the bigger pipe at the request of county officials, who envision other places to use the water.

The recycled water will come from the Los Angeles County sanitation district plant that serves Lancaster.

Up to 500,000 gallons will come from a small treatment plant that provides water to the lakes at Apollo Park.

Up to 1 million gallons will come from a new treatment project being constructed by the sanitation district. A permit for that project will come before state water regulators for approval in September, said Charles Boehmke, head of the district' planning department.

The city is looking at the idea of creating an enterprise fund in which the users of the water would pay the costs of creating and operating a citywide network.

After the Division Street pipeline, the master plan calls for a second phase expanding the initial system by running a pipeline to the city's 160-acre soccer complex on the eastside. The pipeline would run south on Division to Avenue K and then east to 30th Street East.

A third phase would run a pipeline west along Avenue K to 70th Street West and a north-south pipeline from the Lancaster sewage treatment plant to Avenue K. A third pipe would run along 40th Street West between avenues K and M.

A fourth phase would run a pipe along Avenue H between 30th and 90th streets east.

County sanitation district officials are upgrading and expanding their Lancaster operations. Until 2009, when the upgrades to the treatment plant will be completed, the city will receive recycled water for free.

The city is negotiating with the sanitation district for the purchase of water after 2009.

james.skeen(at)dailynews.com

[phone]