OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) - After years of planning, the City of Oceanside is now weeks away from breaking ground on a project that will create a new source of drinking water.
Called Pure Water Oceanside, recycled water with go through a rigorous purification system, ultimately supplying 32 percent of the city's water supply needs.
"It's more sustainable and will help us stabilize rates moving forward," said Sarah Davis, a Senior Environmental Specialist with the City of Oceanside.
Right now, the city is offering tours of its water plant and educating residents on Pure Water Oceanside.
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"Oh, the town is growing, yes. It seems like every open space I see in Oceanside is going to have a house on it," said Tad Shiner, an Oceanside resident of eight years.
On Shiner's mind is whether the new source of water will be safe and how the project will impact resident's bills.
Similar projects have gained headlines because water from your sinks and toilets is recycled into drinking water.
Davis wants to assure the public that Pure Water Oceanside will yield high-quality drinking water that is clean, safe, drought-proof, and environmentally sound.
"Currently, Oceanside imports the majority of our water from Northern California or the Colorado River, so that comes from hundreds of miles away, and takes a lot of energy to transport. Also, the cost of that continues to increase," said Davis.
The process uses state-of-the-art water purification steps that replicate and accelerate nature's natural recycling process:
- Microfiltration - Filters remove bacteria and suspended solids from reclaimed water
- Reverse Osmosis - Ultra-fine filters remove salt, viruses, bacteria, pharmaceuticals and chemicals
- Ultraviolet Light and Advanced Oxidation - The final polishing step neutralizes any remaining substances
- Injection - Minerals are added before the water is injected into the Mission Basin
- Treatment - Water is extracted from the aquifer and treated again at the city’s Mission Basin Groundwater Purification Facility
- Delivery - The water is distributed to customers
The city plans to break ground in January 2020 and the facility is expected to be complete in 2022.
To learn more about the project or sign up for a tour, click here.
