For decades, a costly problem has been worsening beneath California’s San Joaquin Valley: the land has been sinking, driven by the chronic overpumping of groundwater.
As agricultural wells have drained water from aquifers, underground clay layers have compacted and the ground surface has been sinking as much as 1 foot per year in some areas.
Progress on the East County Advanced Water Purification Program (East County AWP) continues on schedule at multiple East County locations with significant milestones in recent months. Project construction is scheduled through 2025.
The main project site at the purification treatment facility is busy, with roughly 280 workers working on completion. Nearly 90% of the concrete is poured, and facility components are arriving from as far away as Japan and Canada.
The East County Advanced Water Purification Program is an important water project for East San Diego County. When complete, the Program will deliver a clean, reliable, and local water source.
The building housing the advanced water purification treatment facility is taking shape as the roof is being added.
Raising the roof at the main treatment facility. Photo: East County Advanced Water Purification Program
Construction on the 23,000-square-foot Visitor’s Center will be complete at the end of 2025. It will house administrative offices, the operation control center, a testing laboratory, and a community room. Steel beam installation, including 66 columns and 100 beams, will use 350,000 pounds of U.S. steel. The roof has also been installed.
There are four water purification steps, including membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, advanced oxidation using ultraviolet light, and free chlorine disinfection. The advanced water purification facility will treat up to 11.5 million gallons daily for 50,000 households.
Water from this project will be provided to customers in Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Helix Water District, and Lakeside Water District service areas, and the northern portion of the Otay Water District.
Work is underway on Fanita Drive in Santee. Photo: East County Advanced Water Purification Program
More than 70% of the purified water and wastewater pipelines are installed throughout Santee and Lakeside. In addition, an 18-inch diameter wastewater pipeline was pulled under the San Diego River and a nearby golf course. At 3,500 feet long, it is one of the longest horizontal directional drill operations ever in San Diego County.
Overnight work began in late October near and at the intersection of Mast Boulevard and Cuyamaca Street in Santee. Work hours are from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. This night work will allow crews to install a purified water pipeline when the roads are less busy, minimizing impacts to the public.
For residents who live in the immediate area, information was mailed to affected households describing the work and providing contact information. Construction in this area is expected to last through the second week of November.
With construction in multiple locations throughout East County, the Program’s interactive map continues to be a valuable tool for residents and businesses to track where work is happening. The map is updated regularly and accessible 24/7 through the EastCountyAWP.com website. Information is also available via social media at @eastcountyawp on Instagram and Facebook.
Encinitas, Calif. — At its November 6 meeting, OMWD’s Board of Directors honored Board Secretary Larry Watt for 12 years of dedicated service to its ratepayers. Mr. Watt did not seek reelection for another term, and this was his last meeting as a board member.
“Mr. Watt will be missed,” said Board President Christy Guerin. “Our ratepayers greatly benefited from his knowledge and experience from over 40 years of devoted public service.”
Encinitas, Calif. — At its November 6 board meeting, Olivenhain Municipal Water District recognized six community members with “Pure Excellence” awards. The winners—HASA, Inc., Begone Graffiti, Ariel Reed, Walter Haslop, The Grauer School, and Larry Watt—were acknowledged for their significant contributions to OMWD and the local community.
“Tonight, we celebrate our 2024 honorees who are making a difference in our community,” said OMWD Board President Christy Guerin. “We are grateful for their efforts in delivering exceptional service, promoting water use efficiency and the preservation of natural habitat, and providing good leadership.”
Under human supervision, several dozen goats can efficiently and safely clear an acre of brush per day. Photo: City of San Diego
Goats may be used at additional locations among the City of San Diego’s nine reservoirs. Photo: City of San Diego
The reviews are in for the 2024 Vallecitos Water District’s annual Water Academy, featuring a tour of the District’s facilities.
Participants raved about their opportunity to learn firsthand about the District’s operations from its professional staff in multiple disciplines, including James H. Gumpel, P.E., Vallecitos Water District General Manager.
Raul Rodarte, Wastewater Collections Worker II, offers a demonstration during the facilities tour. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Among the stops along the tour:
The District’s Wastewater Collections Department demonstrated how it keeps sewer pipes clean with a combination truck. The CCTV camera van was also on display. A recorded video showed how the camera system inspects the District’s sewer pipes.
Wastewater Collections staff are also trained as the District’s Confined Space Rescue Team. They discussed how the team’s preparedness and training to address emergencies immediately, instead of waiting for first responders, can save lives.
At the District’s welding shop and mechanics bay, mechanics explained how performing repairs in-house saves District customers money.
The Maintenance Services Department discussed the essential emergency repair parts maintained in the warehouse which allows construction crews to expedite water main repairs and return service to the customers as soon as possible.
Water Academy participants also got a presentation by the Construction Department with a closeup look at heavy equipment in operation, including a Mini-Excavator, Backhoe, Skid Steer, Hydro Excavator and Service Truck, and a 10-wheeler Dump Truck. All the equipment enables Vallecitos Water District personnel to repair water mains as quickly as possible to return customers to service.
Water Operations personnel demonstrated the Neutral Output – Discharge Elimination System (NO-DES) trailer, which functions as a portable water filtration unit. It removes minerals that can settle in water mains over many years. This helps to maintain high water quality for the District’s customers.
Vallecitos Water District is among the first agencies in San Diego County to purchase one of these units. It also helps the District comply with regulations that require urban retail water suppliers to submit water loss audits to the State of California annually. Water agencies are required to account for every drop of water and reduce water waste wherever possible.
At the District’s Spill Emergency Response Plan Training Center, participants learned how Vallecitos employees practice responding to sewer spills and watched a demonstration. All water used for training and the demonstration is potable water rather than actual wastewater. A combination truck was set up downstream to demonstrate how a sewer spill would be mitigated and collected.
Water Operations field and lab testing equipment were on display. Several tests were run to show how lab testing in-house delivers faster, more cost-efficient results. Additionally, staff showed customers how, by adding CO2 to a water sample, the pH (measure of acidity or basicity) is changed.
Vallecitos Water District customers learn how to check their meters at home. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Employees in the Meter Department showed customers how to read their own meters and how to check for leaks.
No Vallecitos Water District tour is complete without a stroll through its Sustainable Demonstration Garden, including its new seed library and garden features.
Participants in the Vallecitos Water District facilities tour offered positive feedback from their experience. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Participants received samples of PureGreen fertilizer from Encina and water bottles and had fun with trivia questions to conclude the tour.
Participant reviews highlighted the complexity of the operation, the friendly staff, and how much they learned.
“(The) complexity of providing water to a high population density coastal area. Good people with good management” wrote Frank Yakos.
“Previous to today I already had a very positive impression of VWD. Today’s information increased my positive impression immensely,” wrote Diane Veach.
“Learned something interesting from each presenter, learned a lot! Loved how friendly everyone is,” wrote Ann Kreile.
“I’m impressed with everything! Clean facility! Great staff! Great presentation!” raved Nancy Sims.
“Thanks! Keep up the good work!” said it all for Michael Wilkinson.
Olivenhain Municipal Water District is beginning construction on new recycled water pipelines in Encinitas. The pipelines are part of a larger expansion of OMWD’s recycled water distribution system that will result in the savings of more than 12.5 million gallons of imported drinking water each year.
This phase of the project involves installing pipelines on Summerhill Drive and Village Center Drive in Encinitas. Work is scheduled to take place Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Additionally, restricted work hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, will be in effect for any work directly impacting Diegueño Middle School.
Other project phases involved the construction of recycled water pipelines around Park Dale Lane and Gatepost Road in Encinitas, which are now complete, and along Calle Barcelona in Carlsbad, on which work continues. This project is anticipated to be completed in spring 2025. No impacts to customers’ drinking water supplies are anticipated.
OMWD is coordinating with the cities of Carlsbad and Encinitas on a traffic management plan to minimize traffic disruptions for residents and businesses during construction. Learn more in the video presentation below.
OMWD successfully secured approximately $900,000 in grant funding to make this project cost-effective for ratepayers. Specifically, both the US Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources are contributing grant funds to offset project costs.
By expanding the recycled water distribution system, OMWD will cut costs by replacing important drinking water with recycled water. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District
OMWD receives 100 percent of its drinking water supply from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Colorado River. These sources have become unreliable due to droughts and overuse.
Recycled water is locally produced, disinfected wastewater used for irrigation. It is a drought-resilient supply and costs less than potable water. In addition, using recycled water reduces the amount of treated wastewater discharged to the ocean and reduces our dependence on imported water from faraway sources.
OMWD has identified opportunities in Encinitas and Carlsbad to connect more customers to its recycled water distribution system. The completion of the pipeline extensions will result in the conversion of 28 water meters from potable to recycled water, saving more than 12.5 million gallons of imported drinking water every year.
OMWD serves up to 15% of its overall demand from recycled water treated through its award-winning 4S Ranch facility. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District
OMWD produces up to two million gallons of recycled water daily at its 4S Ranch Water Reclamation Facility. Additionally, OMWD is the lead agency of the North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition, a group of nine North County agencies that coordinate across jurisdictional boundaries to expand the reach of the recycled water.
As a result, OMWD now serves up to 15 percent of its overall demand from recycled water and continues to identify additional ways to make recycled water available to eligible customers.
Get the latest updates on OMWD’s dedicated projects page on its website: www.olivenhain.com/projects
Encinitas, Calif. — Olivenhain Municipal Water District will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on October 16 to receive
comments on proposed water charges. The proposed charges would increase a residential customer’s bill with average
usage by less than five percent, beginning January 1, 2025.
OMWD buys all of its drinking water supply from its wholesaler, San Diego County Water Authority. Buying wholesale
water makes up approximately 60 percent of OMWD’s operating costs. Effective January 1, 2025, SDCWA will increase
the price OMWD pays for water by 14 percent.
The Otay Water District Board of Directors announced at its September board meeting that it appointed Francisco X. Rivera to fill the Division One vacancy that resulted from the resignation of Tim Smith. Director Rivera was one of three candidates vying for the position to represent Division One.
Following the unanimous 4-0 vote by the board of directors, the District administered the Oath of Office. Director Rivera immediately assumed all powers and duties of the board of directors.
“I am honored to have been considered and selected as part of this public process and it is with a lot of pride and pleasure that I take the responsibility seriously for the Otay Water District,” said Rivera. “I’m ready to begin serving our ratepayers of division one and am dedicated to helping the board and staff carry out the District’s mission. I hope to build on what has already been accomplished at the District and to find ways to continue to make improvements.”
Newly appointed Otay Water District board member Francisco X. Rivera takes the oath of office at the September meeting. Photo: Otay Water District
The board of directors conducted open interviews during the regularly scheduled September 4 board meeting. The candidates, whose applications and resumes were included in the board packet, were asked the same set of questions in a public forum. Following the interviews, a nomination was made.
District Board President Jose Lopez welcomed Rivera to the board. “We were impressed by Director Rivera’s background in engineering and his commitment to the community, which will help contribute to the District’s goals. We are confident that he will make a great asset to this board.”
Rivera began his career with the City of Chula Vista in 1984, retiring in 2023 after holding key positions such as principal civil engineer, deputy city engineer, and deputy director of engineering. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the United States International University in San Diego and holds California professional licenses in both civil and traffic engineering. Over the years, he has managed major infrastructure projects, including transportation improvements and wastewater systems.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Director Rivera is also an active member of his community, serving on the executive board of the Eastlake III Homeowners Association, the Salvation Army South County Advisory Board, and the SANDAG TransNet Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee.
During his tenure on the District’s board, Director Rivera aims to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction, foster exceptional employee morale, and minimize water and wastewater rate increases. Director Rivera will serve the remaining 15 months of Smith’s term, with the next election for the four-year seat scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Encinitas, Calif. — At its annual conference today, California Special Districts Association honored Olivenhain Municipal Water District with its Exceptional Outreach and Advocacy Award for OMWD’s engagement with legislators and policymakers.
“OMWD is honored to be recognized for our efforts shaping water policy, representing our ratepayers at the state and federal levels, and collaborating with regional partners,” said OMWD Board Director Marco San Antonio.
