Vallecitos is committed to meeting all of its customers' water, wastewater and water reclamation needs. Miles and miles of pipe, lift stations and pump stations are critical to servicing the District’s 45-square-mile service area, but just as important are the facilities listed below:

Administration building
Decisions made by the Board or staff from the Administration building have a great impact on your water or sewer service. Along with housing the District's Board room, it also contains offices for the Finance, Engineering, Administrative Services and Executive staff. Shortly following its 1997 opening, the building was honored with the 1998 Orchid Award by the San Diego Architectural Foundation for best and built environment. In 2010, the District revamped the front garden to feature California native plants, water features that use water collected in a rain harvesting system, and other sustainable features that visitors can implement at home. 

In 2006, the District constructed solar ports over the fleet and employee vehicles to offset energy usage at the headquarter facilities.  This solar power system supplies up to 90% of the electricity used on site each year.  To see a real-time display of the solar energy production at Vallecitos, click on the link below: 

Operations and Maintenance buildings
Located directly next door to the Administration building, the District's Operations and Maintenance buildings house many of the Operations and Maintenance Departments, along with a state-of-the-art SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) system that monitors and controls the District's water systems. These facilities also include several fabrication/repair shops, a warehouse, and a complete automotive shop for the District's fleet maintenance and repairs.

Meadowlark Water Reclamation Facility 
This facility based in Carlsbad, CA recycles up to 74 percent of the wastewater generated within the District’s boundaries. After treatment, this water processed at Meadowlark is used again for irrigation purposes in the Carlsbad-Encinitas vicinity. A $19 million upgrade that essentially doubled output to 5.25 million gallons per day without extending the existing facility’s boundaries earned the plant the Civil Engineering Society’s “Award of Excellence” for 2009 and “2008’ Recycled Water Agency of the Year” award from the WateReuse Association. 

Mahr Reservoir

While waiting to live its second life greening up golf courses or roadside roses, the recycled water produced at the Meadowlark facility is stored at the District's Mahr Reservoir, which can hold up to 54 million gallons of reclaimed (recycled) water. The reservoir was completed in 1981 and was originally called La Costa Storage No. 1 Dam and Reservoir. It was renamed after the District’s original founder, 35-year board member Stanley A. Mahr. 

Twin Oaks Reservoirs

With one at a capacity of 33 million gallons and another next to it at 40 million gallons, Vallecitos’ Twin Oaks Reservoirs No. 1 and No. 2 aren’t simply neighbors but a water storage dynamic duo. Both facilities feature a pre-stressed concrete exterior to increase durability and strength. The two structures rivaling the size of a typical baseball stadium are the largest of their kind, with the 40-million gallon facility considered the largest in the world. 

Besides being structurally sound the facilities are further buried underground for aesthetics to better blend with the community. Engineering companies have honored both with awards for their design. But the District chooses to recognize them for something far more important – additional storage to increase service reliability in the event of emergency. 

South Lake Reservoir

The District's South Lake Reservoir was built in 1959 with an earthen dam and provided drinking water to the Lake San Marcos and Coronado Hills areas until 1984 when Vallecitos decommissioned its use. Read more about South Lake's history....

Long-awaited public access to this beautiful retired reservoir became a reality in April of 2023 as City of San Marcos and Vallecitos Water District officials celebrated the grand opening of South Lake Park. The 10-acre site is located at 975 Sunstone Drive and includes a mile-long hiking trail around the lake, idyllic spots for fishing, and a small parking lot.  The park project is a joint effort between the City of San Marcos and Vallecitos Water District and has been planned since 2005, when the city made a deal to rent the old reservoir from Vallecitos for $1 a year for 50 years.  Prior to the park opening, the lake was inaccessible to the public and sat behind locked gates where it served as an emergency water storage reservoir – a role that will continue.   

At its maximum capacity, Southlake can hold 73 million gallons of water. It is filled with run off from rain and fluctuates with drought conditions. The deepest part of the lake is 50 feet. South Lake is now a great addition to all the wonderful open space and trails available in San Marcos and is bustling with wildlife as shown in the video below: 

For recreational information on the park, please contact the City’s Parks and Recreation Department at parksandrec@san-marcos.net or at 760-744-9000.   

See for yourself…..

The District routinely schedules tours of its facilities through its “Water Academy” program. The event is free of charge and available to all customers, and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the important role facilities such as these play in providing and disposing of your water. Click here or call (760) 744-0460 to be added to the waiting list for the next tour.

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