GrokSurf's San Diego

The City of San Diego’s project to evaluate the production of drinking water using the Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) process is a step closer to beginning.

The San Diego Public Utilities Department has asked the City Council’s Natural Resources and Culture Committee to recommend City Council approval of an agreement for an Advanced Water Purification Facility to be constructed as part of the Indirect Potable Reuse/Reservoir Augmentation Demonstration Project.* The item was placed on the committee’s June 16 agenda as a consent item. Items on the consent agenda are usually considered non-controversial and are typically quickly approved.

The agreement calls for a $6.6 million contract with a private company named Camp Dresser and McKee. The company (and a sub-consultant referred to only as “MWH”) would have authority to “design, procure, install, test, and operate” the purification facility. Work would begin in fall 2010 and take three years to complete. The facility will be located on the grounds of the North City Water Reclamation Plant at Miramar Road & I-805.

Executive summary sheet written for the committee from the Public Utilities Department

Also on the committee’s agenda is the Monthly IPR update for June from the Public Utilities Department. The update mentions that an outreach communication plan for the IPR project is in final draft status, that a database of community leaders is being developed in order to hold stakeholder interviews, and that a speakers bureau will be a large part of the outreach effort.

* I was told by Eric Symons, Supervising Public Information Officer for the Public Utilities Dept. that the committee will also discuss a name change for the project, from Indirect Potable Reuse/Reservoir Augmentation Demonstration Project to Water Purification Demonstration Project.