Frequently Asked Questions
The Greenspot Recharge Project, also known as “Greenspot,” will keep our water local by sending purified water from the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA) treatment plant to new recharge basins in the Erwin Lake area. There, it undergoes additional, natural filtration as it slowly filters down through layers of soil and travels northwest to existing municipal wells, helping to replenish the Big Bear Valley's groundwater basin.
The Replenish Big Bear Program is still moving forward, but its near-term focus has narrowed. A "program" is a group of related projects that all work toward one shared goal. It’s like an umbrella that can cover several projects at once. The Replenish Big Bear Program's core goal has always been to support long-term community resilience through groundwater recharge. Where possible, it also aims to provide additional community benefits.
When Replenish Big Bear was first planned in 2018, it included several project ideas. Together, these ideas would have brought a range of benefits to the community. One part of the program would have added water to Big Bear Lake to support recreation and habitat. Another part would recharge the groundwater basin. But pursuing several projects at once became too costly and complex.
In April 2026, the BBARWA Board of Directors chose to narrow the initial focus to groundwater recharge only and move forward with the Greenspot Recharge Project as Phase 1 of Replenish Big Bear. The goal of this change is to take a first step to increase water security for the Big Bear Valley. It also keeps costs lower for BBARWA ratepayers. Under Phase 1, the purified water produced by BBARWA would go into our groundwater basin only, not into Big Bear Lake. Future phases could be explored later to keep more water in the Valley for other uses. The Greenspot Recharge Project is a proven, workable way to recharge groundwater. It also fits BBARWA's mission to reuse wastewater in a responsible way.
Going forward, the Replenish Big Bear Program will remain active, but communication will be focused on the Greenspot Recharge Project. Greenspot is the only project currently being explored.
Big Bear Valley depends entirely on groundwater for its drinking water supplies. In recent years, drought and more variable precipitation have reduced how much water naturally recharges the groundwater basin, leaving the community vulnerable to water shortages. Water purified and returned to our local groundwater basin through this project is equivalent to what 2,700 average households in the Big Bear Valley use each year.
At the BBARWA treatment plant, water will undergo multiple treatment steps including ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light. Purified water is pumped to the Greenspot site and placed into recharge basins that appear like large ponds and allow the water to soak into the ground over time. Once absorbed into the ground, this purified water will undergo additional, natural filtration as it soaks through layers of soil and into the groundwater basin. From there it travels northwest to existing municipal wells.
Professionals have looked at seven ways to use our treated water in the Big Bear Valley. These studies show that groundwater recharge at Greenspot is one of the best options.
Studies and tests have confirmed that groundwater recharge would be effective at the Greenspot Recharge site. Additionally, the site is near existing Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power and Big Bear City Community Services District wells, which reduces project costs.
Purified water goes through multiple treatment steps and routine testing to ensure it meets or exceeds strict state and federal water quality standards. Once placed into the Greenspot recharge basins, water will undergo additional, natural filtration as it soaks through layers of soil and into the groundwater basin. Eventually the water will reach municipal wells and be considered the same as all other groundwater. Local water suppliers then follow state and federal standards for potable water so that by the time it gets to you it’s completely safe to drink.
The project team is actively working to manage the cost of this project. The estimated cost to complete the Greenspot project is $81.4 million. The total cost is $88.6 million when you include the cost of developing the overall Replenish Big Bear Program. The BBARWA Governing Board must approve the project before it moves to construction. If approved, the Greenspot Recharge Project would be funded using a mix of grants, loans, bonds, and sewer rates. BBARWA has pursued grants and low-cost financing to help limit rate increases for residents and businesses. Updates on costs and rate impacts will be shared as the project moves forward.
Project expenditure reports are included in the monthly BBARWA Board Meeting agenda packet.
Final design is currently underway. The Project Team is refining design components and estimated costs. Construction of the project is subject to BBARWA Governing Board approval. The community will be informed as more details become available.
We welcome and encourage community input. You can attend BBARWA Governing Board meetings, sign up for project updates, contact our office, or schedule a meeting with project representatives.
