Orange County and other communities inject reclaimed water into seawater intrusion barriers, where it blends with groundwater. The groundwater is then pumped out and piped to homes and businesses. In areas of Los Angeles County, and many areas throughout the country, reclaimed water has been used to recharge the groundwater basin for decades. Microfiltration is also used to purify food products, such as fruit juices, and to sterilize medicines that cannot be heated. It works like a screen that is large enough to allow small water molecules to pass through, but small enough to stop particles and bacteria.
Reverse osmosis is used by bottled water companies to purify water for their products.
Water is directed under pressure through a thin membrane that allows only water molecules to pass through, eliminating salts, viruses and pesticides. In order for the Groundwater Replenishment System to proceed, it must be reviewed and evaluated by more than a dozen federal, state and local agencies responsible for protecting the environment, public health and water quality. Southern Californians are all too familiar with the reality of droughts and the extreme pressure they can exert on an already strained water supply. In order to minimize the effects of droughts in the future, the Groundwater Replenishment System would help keep Orange County's underground water basin filled. The Groundwater Replenishment System would act as a countermeasure against droughts, providing Orange County with a dependable supply of pure, clean water.