Padre Dam Municipal Water District built Santee Lakes to demonstrate the promise of water recycling. Should a water and wastewater agency be in the recreation business? Let’s ask that question a different way. Is it important to show cities and communities worldwide how to turn wastewater into recreation, reduce their wastewater stream and processing costs, increase their local water supply, and do it all profitably, with no burden on property taxes or ratepayers? Urban planners, architects and government officials from around the world tour Santee Lakes on a regular basis.