Water use restrictions are usually the first sign of severe drought conditions in California, but a new recycled water treatment facility in Escondido set to go online early next year could help offset those restrictions for the local farming communities.
What’s unique about the new plant is that when drought conditions develop, local farmers with avocado and citrus groves won’t have to cut back on their water use.
Water that goes through the new Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility (MFRO) in Escondido is essentially being repurposed, according to Escondido Utilities Director Angela Morrow. Morrow said MFRO will create a drought-tolerant supply for farmers so that they still have water for their crops during what can be the most trying times in a growing season.
”So with this, if there is another drought, this would enable those farmers and those growers to keep watering with this recycled water,” Morrow said.
The …