RIHE-5.3aDevelop local water supply and reduce dependence on imported water

As droughts become more common, San Diego increasingly relies on water from other sources. To address this challenge, the City has launched Pure Water San Diego. Unlike traditional water conservation, which limits water use, this program focuses on reusing water that goes down the drain. By purifying it, this water can be used again for drinking and other purposes. By 2035, Pure Water San Diego aims to provide nearly half of the city's water supply locally. The program involves a rigorous five-step purification process, with over 50,000 water quality tests conducted. Construction of facilities has begun in 10 communities, and phase I will deliver 30 million gallons of purified water per day, making it the city's largest infrastructure project to date. The City has secured significant funding for the program and is actively promoting it through multilingual information sheets, a visitor center, and a demonstration facility. You can support Pure Water San Diego by visiting the demonstration facility and advocating for the program in your community. To learn more and support water conservation efforts, visit the linked websites below.

Program overview

Pure Water San Diego

For comprehensive information about this complex, multi-phase study, please visit the Public Utility Department's  Pure Water San Diego page.

The Pure Water program implementation is still in phase I. Work is continuing on the construction of phase I facilities and planning of phase II. Currently, the department is hiring and training staff for the North City Pure Water Facility, the Miramar Pipeline, and the associated De-Chlorination Facility. It is also obtaining necessary equipment (including lab equipment), tools, and supplies, as well as vehicles. Phase II will involve the construction of a small-scale facility at the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant. This facility will be managed and operated to conduct studies in order to demonstrate the ability of the program to comply with regulatory requirements. The department will continue to participate in and monitor construction of the phase I pipeline and facilities and will continue to help plan phase II.

Dam Safety Program

PUD is actively developing a Dam Safety Program to address the aging dam assets and restore water storage capacity, aiming to reduce our reliance on imported water. The City of San Diego owns and maintains thirteen dams, nine of which are vital components of our raw drinking water reservoir system. Many of these dams are among the oldest in California and are nearing or have exceeded their useful service lives. Consequently, they exhibit deficiencies requiring immediate repair to ensure safety and operability. Several City dams do not meet current dam safety standards and have been rated as "poor" condition by the DSOD. These conditions, along with DSOD restrictions, limit the City's ability to fully operate the dams, affecting water retention and regional water supplies. The City emphasizes that maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of these dams are essential to restore the raw water system, safeguard public health and safety, and ensure local water supply reliability.