New procedures will improve the Carmel (California) Area Wastewater District's water reclamation process to allow several local golf courses to begin irrigating almost exclusively with recycled wastewater.

Previously, the high salt content of the water Carmelians pooped in required periodic flushing of golf course greens and irrigation plumbing with potable water to remove the leftover salts. Upgraded equipment and better processing techniques will remove the salt and eliminate the need for flushing with drinking water.

Dick Andrews, the district's general manager, said the project should eliminate golf course irrigation with potable water except in the case of extreme drought.

The agreement also anticipates surpluses of recycled wastewater to benefit steelhead trout habitat by raising the water level in the Carmel River Lagoon. The lagoon suffered a severe water shortage this summer.

The project will result in about 300 acre-feet of water returned to the Carmel River each year, enough water to serve about 1,200 homes, said David Berger, general manager of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District.

PoopReport supports ecologically sound use of recycled wastewater, and readers should anticipate periodic articles on this issue.