5.3 Expansion of Existing Resources
Aside from reducing water use through conservation and limiting water losses through
infrastructure repair, it may be possible to expand Loreto’s existing water supply by:
- Identifying enhanced recharge options and locations to augment the existing wells in the
San Juan Londó Aquifer system;
- Investigating the potential to replace some existing water used for landscape and golf
course irrigation, as well as for other non-potable uses, with reclaimed water.
- And, determining whether existing groundwater contamination around the old wells in
the Loreto groundwater basin can be effectively remediated.
Enhanced recharge would involve an expansion of the studies performed on the San Juan Londó
Aquifer system. The development of a recycled water resource would require an investment in the
existing wastewater treatment plants in the region. The improvements needed to raise treatment
to levels suitable for recycling and to install the associated treated effluent distribution system can
be very costly, but they could potentially provide an additional benefit by reducing wastewater
discharges to the Marine Park. The potential for remediation of existing wells in Loreto would
require testing of the wells in conjunction with an evaluation of why the wells were
decommissioned approximately 20 years ago. |
