Report on Beaumont’s Recycled Water Reuse Strategy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

The City of Beaumont, in collaboration with key regional partners, is advancing its Recycled Water Reuse Strategy. This initiative represents a significant step towards sustainable water management and directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A recent update provided to the Beaumont City Council on July 15 detailed a proposed “hybrid” solution for groundwater recharge, outlining the project’s framework, financial commitments, and implementation challenges. The project’s core objective is to deploy recycled water, enhancing regional water security and environmental resilience.

2.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Recycled Water Reuse Strategy is fundamentally aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The project’s design and objectives contribute to the following goals:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The project directly addresses Target 6.3 by increasing water recycling and safe reuse, and Target 6.4 by promoting water-use efficiency and ensuring sustainable withdrawals from the groundwater basin. Recharging the basin with recycled water is a critical strategy for long-term water availability.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership (Target 17.17). The collaborative “whiteboarding” session involving the City of Beaumont, the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District (BCVWD), and the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency demonstrates a commitment to shared goals and resource mobilization.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By securing a sustainable water source, the project enhances the city’s resilience to water-related challenges, contributing to Target 11.b, which focuses on integrated policies for resource efficiency and disaster risk reduction.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The substantial financial investment in the project constitutes the development of resilient and sustainable infrastructure (Target 9.1). The combined $140 million investment from the city and BCVWD builds the necessary foundation for a circular water economy.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The strategy embodies the principles of sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources (Target 12.2) by treating water as a reusable asset rather than a single-use commodity.

3.0 Proposed Implementation Framework

A “hybrid” solution has been developed through a collaborative process. This framework outlines a partnership to recharge the regional groundwater basin, leveraging existing and new infrastructure to achieve sustainability objectives.

3.1 Operational Plan

The proposed plan involves a coordinated effort between two primary agencies:

1. The Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District (BCVWD) will utilize its non-potable water system to transport recycled water to a designated recharge point.
2. The San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency will manage the recharge of the groundwater basin, integrating the new recycled water source while maintaining its existing recharge operations.

3.2 Next Steps

Pending approval from the Beaumont City Council, the project will proceed with the following actions:

1. Completion of a siting study to identify the optimal location for the new recharge site.
2. Drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize the partnership and responsibilities.
3. Development of a two-tier pricing structure for consideration by BCVWD during negotiations.

4.0 Key Challenges and Strategic Considerations

The project team has identified several challenges that require careful management to ensure successful implementation and long-term viability in line with SDG principles.

• Site Selection: Identifying a suitable location is a primary concern. The city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is a potential site, but its viability is contingent on the area’s underlying hydrogeology. Other potential locations to the north and northwest present challenges related to future land use, as they may be designated for new well sites.
• Regulatory Compliance: Introducing recycled water near existing recharge basins presents potential regulatory complexities. The project must be designed with regulatory flexibility to adapt to future changes in environmental and health standards.
• Infrastructure Integration: Ensuring seamless integration with existing water systems and avoiding conflicts with future infrastructure, such as new wells, is critical for the project’s long-term success and contribution to SDG 9.

5.0 Financial Investment and Commitments

Significant capital has been invested to build the foundational infrastructure for this sustainable water initiative.

• City of Beaumont: $100 million invested in producing recycled water.
• Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District (BCVWD): $40 million invested in the non-potable water distribution system.
• Ongoing Commitment: BCVWD will continue to invest $1 million annually for the operation of the non-potable system, ensuring the project’s long-term sustainability.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The article’s central theme is the “Recycled Water Reuse Strategy project,” which directly relates to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water. The project focuses on treating wastewater and reusing it to “recharge groundwater,” which is a key aspect of water management and sanitation.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The project is a municipal initiative led by the “Beaumont City Council” to make the city’s water supply more resilient and sustainable. By investing in critical infrastructure like a “non-potable water system” and planning for long-term water security, the project contributes to making the urban settlement of Beaumont more sustainable and resilient, particularly against water scarcity.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article explicitly highlights the collaborative nature of the project. It describes a partnership where the “BCVWD and The Pass Agency partner to recharge groundwater.” The solution was developed in a “collaborative brainstorming — session involving the city, BCVWD, and the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency,” demonstrating a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve a common goal.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

1. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
   • The article directly addresses this target by detailing a plan to use recycled water from the city’s “Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)” for beneficial purposes, specifically to “recharge the groundwater basin.” This is a direct implementation of water recycling and reuse.
2. Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
   • The project’s goal of using recycled water instead of fresh potable water for groundwater recharge increases overall water-use efficiency. This strategy helps ensure a sustainable supply of freshwater for the region, directly addressing potential water scarcity.
3. Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
   • The project is described as a “hybrid solution” developed through a collaborative session involving three distinct public entities: the city of Beaumont, the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District (BCVWD), and the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency. This multi-agency cooperation is a clear example of integrated water resources management at the local and regional levels.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.b: By 2030, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, disaster risk reduction…
   • The “Recycled Water Reuse Strategy” is an integrated plan focused on resource efficiency (water) and adaptation to climate change impacts like drought. The Beaumont City Council’s consideration and potential approval of this plan represent the adoption and implementation of such a policy.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • The article details a public-public partnership between the city, BCVWD, and the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency. The discussion of drafting a “Memorandum of Understanding” and the significant financial investments (“$100 million,” “$40 million,” and “$1 million annually”) highlight the resourcing strategy of this effective partnership.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Indicators for SDG 6 Targets

• Existence of a wastewater treatment and recycling plan: The “Recycled Water Reuse Strategy” itself serves as a qualitative indicator of progress towards Target 6.3.
• Financial investment in water infrastructure: The article mentions specific figures that act as indicators of commitment and progress: “$100 million” invested by the city, “$40 million” by BCVWD, and an ongoing “$1 million annually” for operations, all relevant to Target 6.4.
• Formal inter-agency agreements: The potential for a “Memorandum of Understanding” is an implied indicator for formalizing the integrated water management described in Target 6.5.

Indicators for SDG 11 Target

• Adoption of a sustainability plan: The City Council’s formal approval of the “Recycled Water Reuse Strategy” would be a key indicator of adopting an integrated plan for resource efficiency, as per Target 11.b.

Indicators for SDG 17 Target

• Number and nature of partnerships: The established partnership between the “city, BCVWD, and the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency” is a direct indicator for Target 17.17.
• Value of financial resources mobilized for partnerships: The combined investment of over $140 million mentioned in the article serves as a quantitative indicator of the resources mobilized through the partnership.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: recordgazette.net