San Diego launching Pure Water, largest infrastructure project in city's history . . .

[Journeyman]

After months of delays and turbulence, sewage purification pipeline ready for construction in north part of city

San Diego formally launched Friday the largest infrastructure project in city history, a sewage recycling system that will boost local water independence in the face of more severe droughts caused by climate change.

Dubbed “Pure Water,” the multibillion-dollar project is the culmination of a lengthy process featuring thorny lawsuits, complex labor deals and an aggressive public education campaign to fight the derogatory early nickname “toilet to tap.”

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When complete in 2025, the first phase of Pure Water will produce 34 million gallons per day of potable drinking water. A larger second phase, slated for completion in 2035, will add another 53 million gallons.

Together, the two phases of Pure Water are expected to shrink the share of San Diego’s water that is imported from about 85 percent down to less than 50 percent.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2021-08-20/san-diego-officially-launching-pure-water-largest-infrastructure-project-in-city-history

As part of an overall approach to drought mitigation, direct and indirect potable reuse offers an array of benefits, everything from pure water for drinking to a sharp reduction in the amount of sewage being discharged to the ocean. And it can provide a substantial amount of water, as well.

Just a short drive north from San Diego, the Orange County Water District's Groundwater Replenishment System produces up to 100 million gallons (379,000 cubic meters) of water per day of near-distilled, high-quality water. That's enough to meet the needs of nearly 850,000 residents in north and central Orange County.

[Liberty Belle]

1. It's actually more than the city. Other cities in the county are also benefitting,

after sharing costs for what was once derogatorily denounced as "toilet to tap." But the purified water is actually cleaner than water derived from other sources such as the polluted Colorado River; one water official drank a beer distilled using the purified water in an early demonstration.

San Diego is becoming a desert environment with climate change and though the region has taken other actions such as increasing reservoir capacity and conservation, the prospect of future severe droughts made this inevitable, and politicians in both parties were united in supporting this project, from what I've seen in several local city councils and water districts that I've covered as a reporter.

Cheers...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Good for San Diego! This needs to be implemented EVERYWHERE. n/t