California facility expected to refill inland water basins

California inland residents will benefit from a new facility designed to increase water supply reliability.

The San Bernardino Sun reports the Enhanced Recharge Project facility dedicated last week will move water from the Seven Oaks Dam near Highland to a new sedimentation basin and beyond.

Officials say the water from the $14 million project in suburban San Bernardino is intended to spread and seep into a groundwater basin, which officials have said is historically low due to a 20-year drought.

The project is expected to service the homes of 1 million people in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Officials say that with the first phase complete after nine years, the second phase is expected to more than double the number, size and capacity of area recharge basins.