Drinking Water to Come from Lake Hodges

FOX6 San Diego - The House of Representatives Tuesday passed a bill that would enable a portion of Lake Hodges on the border of San Diego and Escondido to be tapped for public drinking water.

Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Carlsbad, introduced the legislation to fund up to $20 million of the total cost of a water reclamation facility to be built and operated by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District.

The reclamation facility would be constructed at the district's existing David C. McCollom Water Treatment Plant in Escondido. The plant wouldl be capable of treating 13,000 acre feet of water, or 4.2 billion gallons, annually -- enough for 13,000 households, according to Bilbray's office.

"Given San Diego County's ongoing water shortage and dependence on imported water, it's imperative that we tap every possible source," Bilbray said. "Water is liquid gold in our county, and we must identify local supplies to help meet our current and future needs, while also encouraging the people of our region to conserve."

San Diego County imports about 90 percent of its water, most of it from the Colorado River and from Northern California.

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