Energy Efficiency
West Basin furthered its commitment to energy conservation and environmentally-sound practices by completing the installation of a 60,000 square foot solar power generating system at the West Basin Water Recycling Facility. The solar panels generate 10% of the facility's peak power demands and produce an estimated 783,000 kilowatt hours per year of solar energy, enough to power nearly 100 homes for one year.
Solar Power The process of converting natural energy from the sun into electrical sources for buildings and homes has been gaining popularity in the United States for the last several years. In addition to reducing energy usage, solar power also cuts back on industrial wastes from fossil fuels currently used for heating and electrical needs, improving the quality of our air, groundwater and plant life. West Basin's solar power generating system will prevent the production of 420,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
The solar project was a small part of the facility's Phase IV Expansion, which will further help the environment by providing an additional 15 million gallons of recycled water daily instead of discharging that water into the ocean. Recycled water produced at this facility uses one-sixth the energy needed to import water from the State Water Project.