Editor's Note: This is the last of a four-part series.

While many associate Serrano with multi-million-dollar homes, fancy neighborhoods and well-designed golf courses, this El Dorado Hills community has class that runs deeper.

That's because underneath its manicured yards and common areas lies an intricate water system that promotes recycled water.

Serrano's dual-plumed water system is the first of its kind in the area. Treated water is piped directly to the taps for drinking, to use in swimming pools and other household uses, while a second set of pipes channels recycled water for all outside irrigation needs.

That includes taking care of the community's parks, landscaped medians and the back and front yards of its 2,774 residents. (It's set up to care for all 3,500 lots expected at build out.)

Recycled water is even used to care for the public school onsite, Oak Meadow Elementary School, and all its play areas.

That comes out to about 2,500 acre feet of water a year, said Kirk Bone, director of government relations for Parker Development Company, Serrano's developer.

Folsom hasn't yet made the transition, but Utilities Director Ken Payne said Sacramento County Community Services District-1 is looking at the possibility of building a reclamation plant near the Folsom-Rancho Cordova border. Any such facility is still at least three to four years off.

"One, it's the right thing to do. It's a source that protects the American River," Payne said. And with roughly two-thirds of the city's water supply being used for landscaping, Payne says it just makes sense. "Why not recycle that through for that purpose?"

There are some who caution that recycled water may not be the cure-all for the region's constricting water issues. Maury Roos, chief hyrdrologist for the state Department of Water Resources, said that while local communities can benefit from the approach, the net water gain is comparatively small.

Meanwhile, El Dorado County is bracing for a greater demand in recycled water.

"Currently in the western end of the county, more than 3,500 residential landscapes and approximately 60 commercial and public landscapes are irrigated with recycled water, and we estimate that demand could triple over the next decade," said El Dorado Irrigation District communications director Deanne Kloepfer. The county is looking into building one or more recycled water seasonal storage reservoirs as a result, she adds.

The biggest challenge with recycled water is identifying a sufficiently sized and economically viable surface storage area to bank the excess. Because the need for water is greater during the summer months, there is typically excess to bank during the winter. The issue, then, is where to store it.

There are restrictions against housing recycled water in the same facilities that contain surface water. Former El Dorado County Supervisor and EID Drought Preparedness Task Force member Bill Center suggests El Dorado County and the city of Folsom could partner on a multi-purpose facility.

The system in Serrano cuts the community's treated water needs in half.

"We'd be using twice as much drinking water," Bone said. "We basically use about half the total drinking water than most suburban neighborhoods, which typically use half the amount for consumption and half for outside irrigation."

According to the El Dorado Irrigation District, which supplies water to Serrano, this will save the water district as much as $100 million in treatment costs through 2025.

So, what is recycled water?

"It's retreated waste water," Bone explained, which has to reach state standards before being reused. "Instead of sending it back into the river or lake, we're using it to irrigate the golf course, parks and Serrano residents' front and back yards."

Because the water is recycled from interior use, there is less of a danger of coming up dry in drought years, says Center.

And people are beginning to take notice. Not only has Serrano's program been used as a model at meetings and conferences throughout the state, but it has also earned some prestigious awards.

In 1998, the California WateReuse Association named Serrano "Project of the Year". Last year it earned the 2005 WateReuse Award of Merit.

"Others are becoming to be interested in this, but there's nothing at this level yet," said Bone, referring to projects planned in Elk Grove, Roseville and Rancho Murrieta.

"It's still new to us," admitted Payne. "It's new to Northern California."

Center agrees, calling El Dorado Hills the world leader in recycled water. While he says it isn't cheap, "the development community (in El Dorado Hills) has been willing to invest appropriately."

It's even earned the respect of environmentalists Robert Jones, 57, and his wife Margret Kim, 45, who moved to the Serrano community four years ago.

"Golf courses use so much water," Jones said. "The recyclable water program is great."

For more information about the Serrano community and its conservation activities, visit www.serranoeldorado.com.