East County Advanced Water Purification Program Moves Forward

Padre Dam Municipal Water District announced last month that ehe East County Advanced Water Purification (AWP) Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Board of Directors and all partnering agencies have approved water and wastewater service agreements. These agreements are critical to the JPA’s eligibility for key Program financing opportunities.

Water purchase agreements were approved between the East County AWP JPA and Padre Dam Municipal Water District and between the East County AWP JPA and Helix Water District. The water purchase agreements cover the terms and conditions for water delivery volumes and water pricing for the purchase of Purified Water by Helix as well as Padre Dam’s purchase of Purified Water and Title 22 recycled water. Padre Dam’s Board of Directors approved the water service agreement unanimously on May 20, 2020. The Helix Water District Board of Directors approved the agreements at a Special Board meeting held on May 27, 2020.

“Approval of these service agreements bring us another step closer to securing this new local water
supply source for East County,” comments JPA Chair Gary Kendrick. “This innovative and collaborative project has significant water and wastewater benefits for our community and will ensure necessary water reliability for future generations.”

The wastewater service agreement was approved between the East County AWP JPA, the San Diego
County Sanitation District, City of El Cajon and Padre Dam Municipal Water District. The wastewater service agreement covers the financial obligations and wastewater capacities related to the Project. The participating agencies will commit all available wastewater flows generated within their individual service areas that can be delivered, treated and disposed of by the East County AWP. The wastewater service agreement was previously approved by the City of El Cajon on May 12, and the County Sanitation District and Padre Dam on May 20, 2020.

The JPA’s execution of service agreements for wastewater and water supply are a prerequisite to
obtaining a credit rating for the JPA, which is required for many financing options. The agreements also provide the necessary financial commitments to ensure long-term security of the JPA’s revenues.

Once complete, the $528 million East County AWP program will generate up to 11.5 million gallons per day of new drinking water – approximately 30 percent of current drinking water demands for residents in East San Diego County. The project uses four advanced water purification steps to produce water that is near-distilled in quality.

After treatment, the purified water will be blended with water in Lake Jennings and treated again at the R.M. Levy Water Treatment Plant before being distributed as drinking water. In addition to providing a new local water supply, the program will eliminate the need to send most of East County’s wastewater to the City of San Diego’s Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, where it is currently treated and then discharged into the ocean.

For more information about the East County Advanced Water Purification Program, please visit http://eastcountyawp.com.