COMMUNITY • Pure Water

Community

THE OSIDER MAY / JUNE 2022

Pure Water Oceanside

WORDS: ELIZABETH SCHWARTZE

supply has declined over years of use.

With Oceanside’s growing population, the need for clean, sustainable water will only increase in the upcoming decades. With approximately 85-percent of Oceanside’s water imported, it’s subject to rising costs, requires excessive amounts of energy to transport, and is vulnerable to natural disasters. It became apparent that the sooner Oceanside could provide its own reliable water source, and remove obstacles to access the

Water is life. Even with an abundance of water on planet Earth, it’s estimated that only .3% - .5% is potable water. As a coastal desert climate, San Diego has been reliant upon water sources from far away—channeling water from the Sacramento Bay Delta and Colorado River. A small portion of the city’s water supply is local and comes from a naturally occurring underground aquifer called the Mission Basin. However, the aquifer’s water water—the better! In anticipation of future needs, and the capacity to affect change within our city boundaries, the City of Oceanside took action. In 2015, a feasibility study was performed and identified indirect potable reuse as economically and structurally feasible for Oceanside. Seven years later, the $70 million project resulted in a fully-functioning, award-winning facility that is cleaning Oceanside’s water—allowing Oceanside to eventually produce 30-percent of its own water. In March 2022, the city of Oceanside held the Grand Opening of Pure Water Oceanside. The project remained on schedule, even receiving an award in 2016 for “Agency of the Year” by the Water Reliability Coalition. “Pure Water Oceanside is a major accomplishment for the City of Oceanside and our community,” said Cari Dale, Water Utilities Director, City of Oceanside. “Our staff work hard to ensure the City continues to increase our local water supply reliability by reusing our water resources to the fullest potential. Developing the first fully operational advanced water purification facility

PURE WATER OCEANSIDE WILL:

• Reduce reliance on imported water

• Improve groundwater resources • Increase local, sustainable water supplies • Be financially competitive with imported and desalinated water rates • Enhance resiliency during droughts and climate change • Be environmentally sound

in San Diego County requires community support and we are fortunate to have Oceanside’s.”

The state-of-the-art process of recycling water is safe, drought-proof, and environmentally sound. “This is not something new to the industry or the world—this is just new to San Diego. Orange County and Disneyland have used the technology for ten years. We’re the first in San Diego to be online. The water is safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly to produce and consume,” stated Lindsay Leahy, Principal Water Engineer.

PURE WATER OCEANSIDE UTILIZES A SIX-STEP PROCESS:

1. Microfiltration: Filters remove bacteria and suspended solids from reclaimed water. 2. Reverse Osmosis: Ultra-fine filters remove salt, viruses, bacteria, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

3. Ultraviolet Light and Advance

Oxidation: The final polishing step neutralizes any remaining substances. 4. Injection: Minerals are added before the water is injected back into the

Mission Basin where it’ll blend with the naturally occurring groundwater and recharge the aquifer. 5. Treatment: Water is extracted from the aquifer and treated again at the city’s Mission Basin Groundwater Purification

Facility. 6. Delivery: Water is distributed to customers!

In summer 2022, Pure Water Oceanside is hosting tours and water tasting at Pure Water Oceanside within the San Luis Rey Water “Not only will the project safeguard against ongoing drought concerns, but it’ll also improve the quality and quantity of our local aquifer and reduce our reliance on imported water, ensuring clean and reliable water is available for future generations”

Reclamation Facility, 3950 North River Road, Oceanside, 92058. With the successful identification of a need, and fulfillment of providing an indispensable commodity, city leadership is excited to share the results of their endeavors. “Pure Water Oceanside exemplifies our commitment to innovative projects that improve the lives of the citizens who call our great city home,” said City of Oceanside Mayor, Esther Sanchez. Not only will the project safeguard against ongoing drought concerns, but it’ll also improve the quality and quantity of our local aquifer and reduce our reliance on imported water, ensuring clean and reliable water is available for future generations.”

To learn more about Pure Water Oceanside, take a virtual video tour of the San Luis Rey Wastewater Treatment plant, and sign up to receive the latest updates, please visit PureWaterOceanside.org