City presents Pure Water San Diego plan to produce one‑third of local drinking water by 2035

City staff presented an overview of Pure Water San Diego at the Sept. 18 council meeting, describing a phased, multi‑decade effort to produce roughly one‑third of the city’s future water supply locally by 2035 through advanced water purification.

The presentation explained San Diego relies on about 85% imported water and averages roughly 10 inches of rain a year, creating long‑term vulnerability to rising wholesale costs, prolonged drought and disasters. The program aims to close the reuse loop by purifying recycled water at reclamation plants to drinking‑water quality and blending that supply with imported and local sources in reservoirs before treatment and distribution.

Staff outlined the five treatment steps used in the multi‑barrier process: ozonation to destroy microorganisms and break down contaminants; biological activated carbon; membrane filtration; reverse osmosis; and ultraviolet disinfection with advanced oxidation. The city noted it has operated a 1,000,000‑gallon‑per‑day demonstration facility since June 2011 and cited more than 28,000 laboratory tests showing the purified water meets or exceeds drinking‑water standards.

Phase 1 of Pure Water San Diego includes the North City Pure Water Facility on Eastgate Mall (near Miramar Road), projected to be operational by 2021 and to produce 30,000,000 gallons per day. Subsequent central and South Bay facilities were described as coming online by 2035 to reach a combined capacity the presentation stated would yield about 83,000,000 gallons per day — about one‑third of the city’s future water needs.

The presentation emphasized the program’s public‑health protections, multi‑barrier treatment and the city’s testing record. For additional details, staff directed the public to the program website.