Mayor Kevin Faulconer sees San Diego's Pure Water Program as proof of concept for other cities with uncertain water supplies. By 2035, the initiative aims to derive one-third of the city's supply from recycled wastewater.
For Brookings, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer writes, "San Diego currently imports 85 percent of its water from the Colorado River and Northern California Bay Delta. With such limited control, San Diego is vulnerable to rising water costs from wholesalers, recurring droughts, climate change, and disruptions in water supply infrastructure due to natural disasters."
Through the Pure Water Program, "our city will use advanced water purification technologies to recycle wastewater into safe, high-quality drinking water. This recycling will produce approximately one-third of San Diego's water supply by 2035." The goal is greater water independence in a dry region.
The project will require substantial investment ($1.2 billion for the first phase alone) for "the design, construction and operation of several new advanced water purification facilities, pump stations and pipelines, and improvements to existing treatment plants."
Faulconer continues: "a renewable energy project that will utilize methane captured from the local landfill to power the majority of the Phase 1 facilities."
FULL STORY: San Diego’s Pure Water Program: A sustainable solution to water supply challenges
San Diego Launches Massive Sewage Treatment Project
The ambitious Pure Water project is designed to reduce the city's dependence on imported water and limit the amount of sewage dumped into the ocean.
Sales Tax to Fund Water Projects Extended in Las Vegas Region
The Clark County Commission is extending a sales tax, created in 1998, which could have drawn to a close after raising $2.3 billion or the year 2025, whichever came first. The tax will remain in place indefinitely.
El Paso Wastewater Purification Facility Breaks Ground
As water supplies become strained and technology advances, cities look to wastewater as a viable source of drinking water.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process
The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
Supreme Court Ruling in Pipeline Case Guts Federal Environmental Law
The decision limits the scope of a federal law that mandates extensive environmental impact reviews of energy, infrastructure, and transportation projects.
Texas State Bills to Defund Dallas Transit Die
DART would have seen a 30% service cut, $230M annual losses had the bills survived.
Bikeshare for the Win: Team Pedals to London Cricket Match, Beats Rivals Stuck in Traffic
While their opponents sat in gridlock, England's national cricket team hopped Lime bikes, riding to a 3-0 victory.
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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