Water Recycling Program
Padre Dam has been a leader in water recycling for more than 50 years. The water recycling process began in Santee in the late 1950s followed by the opening of Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve in 1961. The recycled water project and Santee Lakes received worldwide attention and continue to attract interest in the field of water reuse. In 1997, the Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility was expanded to 2 million gallons per day to provide water for Santee Lakes and for non-potable reuse in portions of the community.
Padre Dam's recycled water meets Title 22 standards and is approved for full body contact recreation and accidental ingestion, however it is not approved for drinking water consumption. Producing recycled water that is safe to drink requires additional treatment. Residents of Orange County, California, drink recycled water treated with reverse osmosis, injected into a groundwater basin, then treated again prior to distribution.