Robert A. Skinner Treatmet Plant (original) (raw)

The Robert A. Skinner Treatment Plant is one of five treatment plants of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Located south of Hemet in Riverside County, the Skinner plant supplies treated water for 2.5 million people who are customers of three Metropolitan Water District (MWD) member agencies: the Eastern and Western Municipal Water Districts in Riverside County and the San Diego County Water Authority. It is the prime source of drinking water for the San Diego region.

From Mountain High…

The water stored in Lake Skinner and filtered through this plant originates in the Rocky Mountains, travels down the Colorado River and flows through Metropolitan's 242-mile Colorado River Aqueduct. In addition, water comes from Northern California rivers and streams that supply the State Water Project.

A five-year multimillion-dollar expansion project completed in 1992 included the construction of two additional treatment modules, a covered treated water storage reservoir, a bypass pipeline system and expansion of the San Diego Canal. Now one of the largest treatment plants in the United States, Skinner delivers 520 million gallons per day. This means the plant cleans enough water to fill the Rose Bowl every 45 minutes.

…To Your Kitchen Faucet

Looking at the treatment plant's complex web of pipes, pumps and sophisticated electronic gadgetry, filtration appears to be complicated. Nonetheless, the basic filtration process is surprisingly simple and effective. It uses items similar to those found in any home, garden or garage: grates and screens to catch large debris; sand, coal, and, in some cases, garnet used as filters to remove any remaining particles left in the water; plus chlorine and ammonia to disinfect.

This plant is essentially two plants in one. It is the only MWD facility which features both the conventional and direct filtration process. The conventional treatment method includes large sedimentation basins that allow particles to settle to the bottom. The direct filtration process relies on filter beds to remove the particles. As always, MWD water meets or surpasses all state and federal water quality standards.

Skinner stands ready to receive additional water supplies from a major new storage reservoir to be constructed in Riverside County's Domenigoni Valley about five miles to the north. When completed, at the turn of the century, it will be MWD's largest Southern California reservoir, with a capacity almost double the region's other six reservoirs combined.

Fun, Fish and Wildlife

Lake Skinner provides a popular recreational spot for sailing and fishing. The catch includes trout, bass and bluegill. A large off-reservoir swimming area is available as well as horseback riding and hiking trails. The 6,000-acre Lake Skinner Park has 270 camp and RV sites, a snack bar, laundromat and camp store.

Metropolitan attempts to keep the reservoir open to the public year-around, however, the lake is closed for a few days during warmer months for treatment of algae growth. Please call the Riverside County Regional Park & Open Space District for further information concerning park hours. (714) or (909) 926-1541.

Just The Facts

The treatment plant is named for Robert A. Skinner, a Metropolitan general manager from 1962 to 1967. An engineer, he was instrumental in negotiating the district's contract with the state Department of Water Resources for delivery of water from Northern California.

The mission of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is to provide its service area with adequate and reliable supplies of high quality water to meet present and future needs in an environmentally and economically responsible way. Through its 26 member public agencies MWD provides about half the water used by more than 17 million people in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.