The East County Advanced Water Purification Newsletter
A Look Back at 2022
Construction Update
Early Morning Trucks Traveling to Treatment Plant Construction Site
Beginning in the second half of January (weather permitting), concrete trucks will arrive for early morning concrete pours at the main project construction site north of Santee Lakes. These trips will begin at approximately 4 a.m. during the next 15 months at various intervals. The early-hour concrete pours are necessary to allow the concrete setting process to occur properly within the required cure time window. This ensures structural integrity for a successful water treatment facility.

Road Work on Fanita Parkway
Potholing is currently underway at Fanita Parkway in preparation for the installation of a drinking water pipeline from the East County Advanced Water Purification Treatment Facility to Lake Jennings. It involves digging exploratory six-foot-wide trenches to test the soil and groundwater conditions. In these test areas, the road will be a single lane and traffic controllers will assist drivers to navigate around the area. This potholing is scheduled to last through January.
Pipeline Work Near Lake Jennings Begins - Some Trails Closed for Safety
Pipeline construction is underway near Lake Jennings. Normal work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. but some work may take place outside these times. The pipeline contractor, Orion, is using the Helix Water District property on El Monte Rd. near the Flume trailhead.

To ensure safety and needed workspace, the Flume trailhead parking lot on El Monte Rd. and trails leading from the parking lot to Lake Jennings are temporarily closed seven days a week, 24 hours a day to the public through summer 2023. Please use the El Monte trailhead 3.3 miles north of the flume trailhead during this closure. There, you will find more trails and a parking lot. Signs are posted on the trails and at trailheads to let recreationists know of the closures. 

What's Going On With Construction?
The Interactive Map Has Answers!
The interactive map is your best tool to stay current on construction activities and updates.
 
Throughout the project we will share schedules and work descriptions on the interactive map. 
 
For example, on the interactive map you will see the 11-mile purified water pipeline has been divided into 10 different segments. Each segment has its own schedule. If you live or work near the construction area, we recommend bookmarking the map webpage for easy access during construction.
The footprint of the new water treatment processes is starting to take shape at the future site of the East County Advanced Water Purification Facility. When complete, this site will produce up to 11 million gallons a day of purified drinking water.
Construction Elements of the
Program
 
  • Water treatment facilities located to the north of Santee Lakes.
  • An 11-mile purified water pipeline from the treatment facility through Santee and Lakeside, ending at Lake Jennings.
  • Two additional 3.5-mile pipelines located south of the new water treatment facilities, past Carlton Oaks Dr to East Mission Gorge Pump Station near the Highway 52 and 125 intersection.
 
Normal work hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Work will be performed outside these hours as needed. Construction for the entire project is expected to be complete in late 2025. We realize there are impacts during construction and appreciate your patience.
Cheers to 2023
The East County Advanced Water Purification Program will create a new, local, sustainable and drought-proof drinking water supply. The Program will use state-of- the-art technology to purify East San Diego County’s recycled water to produce up to 30 percent of East County’s drinking water supply.
Program Partners - East County AWP
East County Advanced Water Purification
Mailing Address: c/o Padre Dam MWD
P.O. Box 719003
Santee, CA 92072
(619) 258 4644
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