Council OKs $614 Million For ‘Cutting Edge’ Recycled Drinking Water Project

The San Diego City Council has approved borrowing $614 million to begin construction of the city’s innovative recycled drinking water project. The first phase of Pure Water — scheduled to begin construction in 2019 and open in 2021 — would use proven purification technology to recycle wastewater into 30 million gallons a day of drinking water. The loan comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will cover 49 percent of the $1.25 billion project. There will be a second reading of the ordinance by the council in two weeks to officially authorize the loan.