This agreement provides funding to santa margarita water district to implement its project to design a new drinking water treatment plant - ranch water filtration plant (WFP) as directed in the 2024…

Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 awarded a Cooperative Agreement totaling $959,752 to Santa Margarita Water District on February 1, 2026, to design a new drinking water treatment plant—the Ranch Water Filtration Plant—under the Congressionally Mandated Projects program (CFDA 66.202), as directed in the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

The recipient will conduct planning and design activities for the water treatment facility, including project management, indirect potable reuse regulatory support, and preliminary design of the Ranch Water Filtration Plant. Deliverables include fatal flaw analysis technical memoranda (draft, second draft, and final versions), engineering reports (draft, second draft, and final versions), a report of waste discharge (draft, second draft, and final versions), PowerPoint presentations for district staff and committees, a presentation for the NWRI Independent Scientific Advisory Panel, and a public hearing presentation.

The intended outcomes include regulatory approval to spread recycled water for groundwater replenishment and reuse, creation of a new local drinking water source, reduced imported water demand from sensitive ecosystems, improved groundwater basin water quality, and reduced salts in the groundwater basin. The project will benefit the Orange County, California community and the environment.

The period of performance runs through December 31, 2029, with place of performance in Ladera Ranch, California. Pre-award costs are approved back to February 1, 2026. The obligation amount is $1,199,690. No sub-recipients are included in the award.

This agreement provides funding to santa margarita water district to implement its project to design a new drinking water treatment plant - ranch water filtration plant (WFP) as directed in the 2024 consolidated appropriations act. This agreement full federal funding in the amount of $959,752. Preaward costs are approved back to february 1, 2026. See terms and conditions. Activities:the activities to be performed include the planning and design of a new water treatment facility project. Workplan activities consist of project management, indirect potable reuse regulatory support, and ranch water filtration plant preliminary design. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include a draft, second draft, and final fatal flaw analysis technical memorandum, powerpoint presentation(S) summarizing findings for district staff and committees, draft, second draft, and final engineering report, public hearing presentation, powerpoint presentation for isap (nwri independent scientific advisory panel), and draft, second draft, and final rowd (report of waste discharge). The expected outcomes include regulatory approval to spread recycled water for the purposes of groundwater replenishment and reuse, produce a new, local drinking water source; reduce imported water demands from sensitive ecosystems, improve groundwater basin water quality, and reduce salts in the groundwater basin. The intended beneficiaries include the community of orange county, CA and the environment.