LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that his request for $320,000 for the Lake County Full Circle Effluent Pipeline preliminary design report update was included in the Fiscal Year 2022 funding package released Thursday by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies.
This legislation was marked up on Thursday.
“Updated and protected water infrastructure is critical for our district, that’s why I requested $320,000 for the Lake County Full Circle Effluent Pipeline project,” Thompson said. “This funding could increase the use of geothermal power and reduce our dependence on less environmentally friendly power generation, all while making our region more resilient against drought. This is critical for our district and I will work to ensure this funding is included in the final spending package that becomes law.”
“A lack of adequate housing supply is one of the greatest obstacles to Lake County’s long-term recovery and future growth and development. Water and wastewater infrastructure development is critical, as we emerge from seven years of compounding natural disasters,” said Lake County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson. “Congressman Thompson understands the situation on the ground. His support of the Full Circle Effluent Pipeline project demonstrates that, and we appreciate his working alongside us to build a brighter future for all Lake County residents.”
This project would evaluate which of the existing wastewater treatment facilities in the project area would provide source water for the effluent pipeline the planned project features.
With technological advances made since the completion of the 2004 preliminary design report, this project will review alternatives for the final use of the treated effluent including geothermal energy production and agriculture irrigation.
Thompson’s letter to the committee said the preliminary design report consists of the following:
— Evaluating which of the existing wastewater treatment facilities in the project area would provide source water for the effluent pipeline the planned project features. Evaluation would include general plant design features, treatment schemes, design influent flows and loads, effluent quality, and current plant flows and current waste discharge requirements and permits.
— Reviewing existing data from state, regional and local agencies regarding existing population and land use in the project area as well as land use plans and population projections to assess anticipated wastewater flows to be served by the resulting project.
— Review the 2004 Preliminary Design Report to reevaluate alternatives considered at that time. In light of new technologies consider additional project alternatives for final use of the treated effluent not limited to; connection to existing Southeast Geysers Effluent Pipeline, agricultural irrigation uses in the Big Valley area, alternative effluent pipeline to different geothermal energy producers, etc. Identify and describe features and requirements of the various components of the Effluent Pipeline and develop alternatives, where appropriate, for those components.
— Provide preliminary design for the alternatives.
— Identify the preferred alternative and assess design and construction considerations,
— Development of Preliminary Design Report.
“This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will evaluate options for the Full Circle Effluent Pipeline to increase the production of geothermal power to help offset our reliance on less environmentally friendly forms of power generation,” Thompson said in his request letter. “Another studied potential use for the treated and recycled wastewater would be to supply agriculture needs in the Big Valley groundwater basin, which would lessen the demand on groundwater sources and provide greater resiliency against drought.”