Program Newsletter
December 2017
Conceptual Rendering of Full-Scale Facility

Conceptual renderings of the full-scale Advanced Water Purification Facility and Education Center and upgrades to the Water Recycling Facility have been unveiled and are quite impressive! More than $29 million in grant funding has been secured to date and efforts continue to apply for more. Once completed in 2025, the project is expected to produce up to 1/3 of East County's drinking water.
Next Steps


The East County Advanced Water Purification Program moved another step forward in October when Padre Dam's Board of Directors approved the next phase of work. The next phase includes developing inter-agency agreements, preparing a financing plan and conducting environmental impact studies for pipeline alignment and construction. These efforts are scheduled to conclude late 2018. At that time, the results will be reviewed by Padre Dam's Board of Directors and the project partners to consider moving to the next phase which, if approved, would include financing and permitting. The purification facility is expected to be operational and providing water to East County water by 2023.
Water Testing at Lake Jennings

View the news clip by clicking on the image above.
Padre Dam and project partner, Helix Water District recently conducted water testing at Lake Jennings as part of the next planning/research steps of the East County Advanced Water Purification Program. Scientists from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography injected a harmless safe-to-drink dye into Lake Jennings to study how purified water from the Advanced Water Purification Facility water would blend with other water sources in the lake. Using an autonomous underwater vehicle that looks like a miniature submarine, the scientists were able to watch how the dye dispersed, mixed and blended with the water and how it moved throughout the lake. This will help Padre Dam and Helix get a better understanding of the lake water's movement and evaluate how using the lake can meet regulatory mixing requirements.
Seize the Day and Take a Tour!

Girl Scout Tour

Our tour program is in full gear! Residents, students and scouts have been visiting the Advanced Water Treatment Demonstration Facility in record numbers and our calendar continues to fill up. It is rewarding to host field trips from schools all over East County and scout troops throughout the county to teach younger minds about our most precious resource - water. All tour guests leave our facility with a better understanding of where our water comes from and how using advanced technology to purify recycled water provides the benefits of a safe, reliable, drought-proof and sustainable source of water. Click  here  to sign up for a tour or to request a group presentation. We look forward to seeing you!
About this Program

The East County Advanced Water Purification Program will create a new, local, sustainable and drought proof drinking water supply using state-of-the-art technology to purify East County's recycled water. This water recycling opportunity will diversify East County's water supply and reduce our dependence on imported water. The program will meet approximately more than 30 percent of East County's current drinking water demands.


East County Advanced Water Purification Program | (858) 385-4420    [email protected]  | www.EastCountyAWP.com
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