The secondary treated effluent is used to irrigate alfalfa and similar feed crops. Due to the limited uses for secondary treated water, it cannot be used for irrigation at parks, golf courses or other public use areas. The District discharges our secondary treated wastewater by irrigating alfalfa which has a high nitrogen uptake.

Nitrogen is naturally found in the waste stream and feed crops play a critical role in ensuring that nitrogen is removed from the treated wastewater before groundwater recharge occurs.