Phase 2 to be complete in 2035

FROM B1 will produce more drinking water than the first phase — 53 million gallons a day versus 30 million gallons a day.

Together, the two phases are slated to produce half of San Diego’s drinking water when Phase 2 is complete in 2035.

A required demonstration project for Phase 2 is planned for Point Loma at a cost of $40 million. That project will prove to regulators that Phase 2 is a viable plan, city officials said.

City officials may also adjust the purification process. The purified sewage might be pumped directly into the city’s water supply, instead of being placed first into a city reservoir — Lake Miramar is being used for Phase 1.

Big decisions remaining for Phase 2 include where to locate the purification plant. City officials have previously mentioned sites in Mission Valley.

The $130 million spike for

Phase 1 will increase the overall costs for Pure Water, which have been estimated at somewhere between $4 billion and $5 billion.

While much of those costs will be passed on to sewer and water ratepayers, city officials stress that the city’s only other option would have been spending an estimated $3 billion upgrading the Point Loma sewer plant and continuing to have expensive imported water make up 85 percent of the city’s supply.

Lorance said Tuesday that Pure Water costs less per gallon of water than desalination.

Councilmember Vivian Moreno said that with climate change and drought becoming steadily more impactful, it is especially crucial for San Diego to seek water independence and a reliable local supply.

“The financial commitment is significant, but the investment we make today is a drop in the bucket compared to the potential costs of water in the future,” she said.

Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera agreed.

“We’re securing the water future of our city and investing in a more livable city for future generations,” he said.

The council also got good news on the expensive and complex federal waivers San Diego repeatedly needs to secure for the Point Loma sewage plant. The waivers allow the plant to continue operating without any upgrades despite it releasing more pollutants into the ocean than the Clean Water Act allows.

Legislation related to the waiver that the U.S. House of Representatives approved in June is scheduled for discussion soon by the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public Works.

The legislation, which is sponsored by Congressman Scott Peters, would streamline and simplify the waiver approval process, which typically costs the city about $500 million each cycle.

The council also agreed to let Mayor Todd Gloria approve — without a council vote — increases to Pure Water construction contracts as large as $2 million. Gloria has had discretion to approve increases as large as $1 million.

Council members, who would still get a memo about such spikes, said giving the mayor additional discretion would help keep Pure Water construction moving.

Visit purewatersd.org for details on the program.