Bogus recycled water signs at Alameda Landing

The extensive landscaping at the recently-completed Bohol Circle Immigrant Park and the Pulte Homes condominiums at Alameda Landing is a beautiful sight to behold.  And hats off to the city and Pulte Homes for installing recycled water pipes during construction. 

The only thing wrong with the landscaping are the signs that say that the plants are irrigated with recycled water from East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD).  This is not true, according to EDMUD Public Information Representative Christopher Tritto.

EBMUD has plans to extend its East Bayshore Recycled Water Project to Alameda in 2027.  They plan to accomplish this by reusing the drinking water line that was replaced earlier this year.  They will feed a plastic pipe through the old metal pipe.  But even after the supply line arrives, EBMUD still needs to design and construct the distribution system to Alameda Landing and Alameda Point. 

“After that crossing pipeline is complete, EBMUD will take the next steps to design and build the recycled pipeline in Alameda,” said Christopher Tritto, Public Information Representative for EBMUD.  “EBMUD will be responsible for the planning, funding and installation of that pipeline in close coordination with the city of Alameda.  We have not started designing that stage of the project, and the funding and timeline are yet to be determined.”  Given the uncertainty, it could be five or more years before Alameda can utilize recycled water instead of drinking water for landscaping.  

“We plan to request that the recycled water landscaping signs you noted in your photo be removed until the city is connected to the recycled water service,” said Tritto in July 7 response to a media inquiry. 

The signs are still there, as of October 17.  Misleading the public is not right.  Pulte Homes and the Alameda Recreation and Park Department should unscrew the signs and store them until the recycled water supply line arrives.  They also should immediately lobby EBMUD to design and fund the distribution lines before the main line arrives so that there is not further delay.   

Originally published on the Alameda Post.

Background –

Alameda Landing became the place name for 146 acres of former Navy property that Catellus had been given development rights to by the City of Alameda. The area with shopping center and homes was originally to be a business park, but that did not pan out. When the city agreed to the change to mixed use in 2006, the area, including the park, became known as Alameda Landing.