SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - San Diego City Council Tuesday night unanimously passed the location of a high-pressure underground pipeline to move sewage from San Diego's Morena treatment plant to a facility in Miramar.
The City Council proposed constructing the pipe under a hilly route beneath some of the busiest intersections in Clairemont and University City.
City Councilmember David Alvarez issued the following statement after the vote:
“Today’s approval of the Pure Water Program’s North City Project is important for the future of San Diego drinking water and is an excellent long-term investment and solution for addressing the City's water needs. Pure Water will give us more control over the water our residents need and make the City less vulnerable to the rising costs of imported water. Additionally, Pure Water will reduce ocean pollution, and makes San Diego more resilient against climate impacts.”
Some residents pushed back against the city's proposal, saying the line would have the potential to spew raw sewage into their communities.
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University City resident Ruth DeSantis added that neighbors are concerned over traffic, noise, property values, and even smells seeping out of vents. There's a middle school, park, and hundreds of homes nearby.
The City says it took various measures to minimize health and safety hazards, although some impacts like noise and traffic are unavoidable during construction.
San Diego spokesman Jerry McCormick added that sewage geysers would not be possible under the pipeline system.
Community groups in University City are now teaming up with those in Clairemont to fight the project.
The city is aiming to have about a third of its water supply be reclaimed water by 2035. That would help combat shortages and price increases.
