Mayor Faulconer: Pure Water Flows Forward with Phase 1 Construction Bids

Mayor Faulconer: Pure Water Flows Forward with Phase 1 Construction Bids

INNOVATIVE WATER RECYCLING PROJECT SET TO INCREASE LOCAL WATER SUPPLY WHILE CREATING 1,000+ GREEN JOBS AMID PANDEMIC

SAN DIEGO – In a major step toward reaching the City’s water efficiency and independence goals, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer today announced the City of San Diego is seeking construction bids for the North City Pure Water Facility as the first of several bids for the Pure Water Program, which is expected to deliver more than 1,000 green jobs aiding in the regional economic recovery effort.

“With the first bid for construction out, the City will soon be putting shovels in the ground to embark on what will be the most important infrastructure project in San Diego’s history,” Mayor Faulconer said. “Pure Water not only helps us leave a cleaner, greener City behind for our grandchildren but also helps ensure our water independence and economic security far into the future.”

This exciting milestone marks the beginning of Pure Water San Diego’s phased, multi-year approach using proven technology to clean recycled water to produce 30 million gallons of safe, high-quality water a day. With the completion of Phase 1, the Pure Water program will provide one-third of San Diego’s water supply by 2035, a critical component of Mayor Faulconer’s landmark Climate Action Plan.

“Water plays a critical role in all areas of our local economy and, as our region responds to the crises brought on by a global pandemic, the economic spark brought on by the Pure Water program moving forward is welcome news,” said Jerry Sanders, President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Securing a safe, reliable water supply will not only help our businesses recover but will strengthen our economy in the future.”

With San Diego’s existing water system, only eight percent of the wastewater leaving homes and businesses is recycled; the rest is treated and discharged into the ocean. The program offers a cost-effective investment for San Diego's water needs and will provide a reliable, local and sustainable water supply.

“San Diegans are committed to protecting and preserving our environment and ensuring a locally-controlled, dependable water supply is critically important to that goal,” said Matt O’Malley, Executive Director and Managing Attorney of San Diego Coastkeeper. “The Pure Water program makes good on that promise by recycling water for generations to come while adding green jobs today.”

The North City Pure Water Facility will treat the recycled water produced at the North City Water Reclamation Plant (which is currently used for irrigation) to purified water standards which is suitable as a potable water source. The new facility will be constructed north of Eastgate Mall near the existing water reclamation plant and will be one of the most advanced water purification plants in the world, and feature a state-of-the-art, five-step treatment process that includes:

• Ozonation

• Biological activated carbon filters

• Membrane filtration

• Reverse osmosis

• Ultraviolet light with advanced oxidation

“We’re excited to begin construction on the first phase of projects for the Pure Water program,” said Johnnie Perkins, the City’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Public Utilities. “The project will provide substantial construction jobs and benefits to the local economy. The North City Pure Water Facility is a key part of the infrastructure that will increase San Diego’s water supply.”

Once operational, the new plant will have a production capacity of up to 30 million gallons per day. The purified water from the North City Pure Water Facility will be sent via pipeline to the City’s Miramar Reservoir where it will be combined with imported and local water and then piped to the Miramar Water Treatment Facility for additional treatment prior to distribution.

Construction bids for the North City Pure Water Facility component are due Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. In the coming months, the City will announce bids for the additional components to the Pure Water Phase 1 project, including:

• Pure Water Facility & Pump Station

• Morena Conveyance Northern Alignment

• Morena Pump Station

• Pure Water Pipeline, Dechlorination Facility, & Subaqueous Pipeline

• NCWRP Expansion, Influent PS, & Conveyance

• Metropolitan Biosolids Center

• Morena Conveyance Southern Alignment

• NCWRP Equalization Basin

• Morena Conveyance Central Alignment

• Miramar Reservoir Pump Station

More information about Pure Water San Diego and the request for bids is available online at sandiego.gov/ecp/about/contracting. ###