News Articles of Interest | Water Purification Demonstration Project

Project Objective

Evaluate the feasibility of using advanced treatment technology to produce water that can be sent to San Vicente Reservoir and later distributed as potable water.

Determine if the Demonstration Project provides evidence of viability for a full-scale IPR/RA project.

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Project Newsletter

Project Updates

E-Update February 2011 (PDF)
E-Update November 2010 (PDF)

Project White Papers

Project Related News

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As 'Yuck Factor' Subsides, Treated Wastewater Flows From Taps, (PDF) New York Times, February 10, 2012
Reclaimed Wastewater for Drinking: Safe but Still a Tough Sell (PDF) National Geographic Daily News, January 31, 2012
Where toilet-to-tap fears circle the drain (PDF), San Diego Union Tribune, January 21, 2012
Media Highlights for Water Reuse: Potential for Expanding the Nation's Water Supply Through Reuse of Municipal Wastewater (PDF) Released: Jan. 10, 2012
Report: Wastewater Preferable to Wasting Water (PDF), USA Today, January 11, 2012
Report Backs Greater Use of Recycled Wastewater (PDF), L.A. Times, January 11, 2012
Has "Toilet to Tap" Water Reached its Moment in the Sun? (PDF), TPO, January 10, 2012
Don't Waste Wastewater (PDF), Daily News, January 10, 2012
Water Recycling Key to U.S. Future (PDF), San Diego Union Tribune, January 10, 2012
Future of Water On Display (PDF), US Mayor, December 19, 2011
City Endorses Plan to Convert Sewage Into Drinking Water (PDF), The North County Times – Californian, December 10, 2011
A Big Win in the War for Water (PDF), San Diego Union Tribune, December 9, 2011
San Diego Frames Water Policy for the Future (PDF), San Diego Union Tribune, October 19, 2011
City's Water Purification Demo Project Honored with National Award (PDF), San Diego Chapter Newsletter, October 2011
City Opens Door to Water Purification Demonstration Project (PDF), Water World, October 13, 2011
Whet's Public's Appetite for More Information Mission Times Courier (PDF), Mission Times Courier, October 7, 2011
Exploring New Options (PDF), Utility Executive, September/October 2011
The Emerald News (PDF), sandiego.gov, July 2011
City’s Water Purification Demonstration Project Honored with National Award (PDF), sandiego.gov, September 16, 2011
Local Experts Discuss Region’s Future Water Supply (PDF), San Diego News Room, September 14, 2011
San Diego’s Proactive Approach-Tests New Water Facility (PDF), SCAP Monthly Update, August 2011
Breaking the Taboo on "Toilet to Tap" (PDF), Time, August 10, 2011
San Diego IPR Demo Open to Public Tours (PDF), Desalination & Water Reuse, August 4, 2011
From Toilet to Tap: Getting People To Drink Recycled Water (PDF), APA Convention Blog, Augusts 4, 2011
Recycling Water - A Clear Solution for San Diego (MP3: 8Mb), KPBS, August 3, 2011
Public Invited to Tour City’s Water Purification Demonstration Project (PDF), WaterTechOnline.com, August 3, 2011
City of San Diego Speculates on Future of New Source of Local Water (PDF), ACWA News, July 29, 2011
Utility Briefs (PDF), AWWA Streamlines, July 26, 2011
San Diego Launches Landmark Water Project (PDF), San Diego Union Tribune, June 30, 2011
City Tests System of Turning Wastewater into Drinking Water (PDF), San Diego News Room, June 30, 2011
Water Reliability Coalition Supports Water Purification Pilot Project, (PDF), San Diego Coastkeeper, June 30, 2011
Mayor Kicks Off Pilot Project to Test Possible New Source of Drinking Water (PDF), sandiego.gov, June 30, 2011
Can San Diego Go From Toilet to Tap? (PDF), NBC San Diego, June 30, 2011
Year-Long Study Will Determine If Wastewater Can Be Properly Treated for Drinking (PDF), 10News.com, June 30, 2011
Will San Diego’s Mayor Sip Purified Sewage? (PDF), Voice of San Diego, June 30, 2011
The Emotion of Wastewater (PDF), HUFFPOST, June 12, 2011
Wastewater Getting New Life Across County (PDF), San Diego Union Tribune, May 15, 2011
California's Water, Water Supply Reliability Through Innovation, Huell Howser Productions, 2010
The Worldwide 'Thirst' for Clean Drinking Water (PDF), NPR, April 11, 2011
From Toilets to Tap (PDF), USA Today, March 3, 2011
The yuck factor: Get over it (PDF), San Diego Union Tribune, January 23, 2011
City Engineers Tell La Jollans About Water Purification (PDF), La Jolla Light, January 12, 2011
Roundtable Series Examines Challenges, Benefits of Water Reuse (PDF), Water World, October 2010
New Source of Drinking Water Hinges on Pilot Project (PDF), San Diego Union Tribune, October 11, 2010
Aurora Opens $653 Million Water Project (PDF), Colarado AP News, October 9, 2010
Should San Diego Ozonate its Wastewater for IPR? (PDF), GROK Surf's San Diego, October 5, 2010
Fact Check: The Real Price of Purified Sewage (PDF), Voice of San Diego, September 16, 2010
San Diego to Test Alternative Water Source (PDF), San Diego News Room, August 20, 2010
Desalination and Water Reuse (PDF), Desalination, August 20, 2010
San Diego's Progress with Wastewater Reuse (PDF), San Diego News Room, August 6, 2010
What Role Could Water Reclamation Play In San Diego's Future? (PDF), KPBS, August 5, 2010
Political Analysis: The Legacy of Toilet-To-Tap (PDF), KPBS, August 4, 2010
Wastewater Permit Means Big Savings For City (PDF), 10 News, August 2, 2010
PR inLA: Just wait for it... (PDF), Los Angeles Times, August 2, 2010
Council Approves Wastewater Treatment Project (PDF), San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, July 28,2010
A Primer/Refresher on San Diego's Water Purification Demonstration (PDF), Grok Surf's San Diego, July 7, 2010
What We Want (PDF), San Diego City Beat, July 7, 2010
Irrigate with waste water: Modesto says 'yes' to plan (PDF), The Modesto Bee, April 27, 2010
A Guide to Purified Sewage (PDF), Voice of San Diego, April 26, 2010
The Future of Indirect Potable Reuse (PDF), San Diego News Network, March 10, 2010
Let's Use the Water We Have (PDF), San Diego News Room, March 9, 2010
Mayor Supports Sewage Recycling Pilot (PDF), Voice of San Diego, February 11, 2010
Water Usage Up (PDF), Voice of San Diego, February 9, 2010
Treated Waste Still Hard to Swallow (PDF), ABC News, February 1, 2010
Toilet-to-Tap Campaign Approved by Council (PDF), San Diego News Room, January 28, 2010
Coalition has Hand in Water Recycling Plan Council Advances Recycling Project (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, January 27, 2010
Toilet to Tap Back on the Drawing Board (PDF), San Diego 6 News, January 26, 2010
Public Comment: Sewage Recycling (PDF), Voice of San Diego, January 21, 2010
Water Reuse: Barriers to Success... And How to Remove Them (PDF), PM Engineer, January 10, 2010
Reclaimed Wastewater Touted as Viable for Growers (PDF), Holister Free Lance News, November 24, 2009
Win the Hearts and Minds to Get Recycled Water (PDF), Voice of San Diego
Singapore's All Wet (PDF), Time Magazine, September 21, 2009
I Can't Wait to Drink Wastewater (PDF), High Country News, August 6, 2009
San Diego Recycled Water Project Moves Ahead (PDF), KPBS, July 7, 2009
Backpedaling Water Options (PDF), Voice of San Diego, July 7, 2009
Every Drop Counts (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, July 6, 2009
Graywater: But All Water Must Be Used Responsibly (PDF), Sign-on San Diego, July 5, 2009
Graywater: Region Needs to Maximize Water Reuse (PDF), Sign-on San Diego, July 5, 2009
San Vicente Dam Expansion Set to Begin, Finally (PDF), Daily Tribune, June 26, 2009
Experts Discuss Challenges to Water Recycling Locally (PDF), KPBS, June 25, 2009
Tampa to Ask Voters Whether They Want Reclaimed Water in Drinking Supply (PDF), St. Petersburg Times, June 24, 2009
San Diego Faces Water Supply Challenges (PDF), KPBS, June 22, 2009
DOD, Defense Contractors Lobby to Block Perchlorate Advisory (PDF), New York Times, June 22, 2009
Reuse Gaining Traction, Experts Say (PDF), American Water Works Association, June 17, 2009
Water Conference Focuses on Water Reuse (PDF), KPBS, June 17, 2009
Overcoming the Stigma of 'Toilet-to-Tap' Water (PDF), San Diego News Network, May 27, 2009
Astronauts' Urine-to-Water Test Successful (PDF), The New York Times, May 21, 2009
National Water Research Institute (NWRI) Final Report (PDF) - May 11-12, 2009
Reclaiming Wastewater Part of the Solution for a Drying Los Angeles County (PDF), Pasadena Star-News, April 6, 2009
Sacramento Sewage Agency Looks At Selling Wastewater (PDF), Sacramento Bee, March 2, 2009
San Diego Officials Score Well on Environmental Report Card (PDF), KPBS, February 27, 2009
Editorial: Dry Winter Could Be The 'New Normal' (PDF), Sacramento Bee, February 27, 2009
Rate Oversight Committee Recommends Water Reuse (PDF), KPBS, February 19, 2009
Officials Look for Water Alternatives (PDF), Coeur d'Alene Press, February 17, 2009
Addressing San Diego's Water Needs (PDF), Sign-on San Diego, February 15, 2009
California's Water Problems Weren't Caused By a Fish (PDF), NRDC.org, January 29, 2009
Toilet to Tap: Once Again (PDF), WaterEfficiency.net, January 28, 2009
2 Watchdogs Won't Oppose Sewage Waiver (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, January 24, 2009
Wastewater to tap water? (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, January 23, 2009
Enviros and Sanders Cut a Deal on Sewage (PDF), Voice of San Diego, January 20, 2009
Where Water Reuse Isn't a Dirty Word (PDF), Voice of San Diego, January 7, 2009
Sewage That's Clean Enough to Drink (PDF), Time Magazine, December 16, 2008
Sewers to Sinks (PDF), Plenty Magazine, December 11, 2008
Treatment Plant Praised (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, December 5, 2008
Communication is Key to Water Conservation (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, November 26, 2008
City Council Approves Demonstration Water Recycling Project (PDF), Asian Journal, November 21, 2008
City's Water Rates Set to Increase 8.4 Percent (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, November 19, 2008
Not Too Freaked Out About Recycled Sewage (PDF), Voice of San Diego, November 18, 2008
San Diego Takes the Initiative on Water Reclamation (PDF), November 18, 2008
City of San Diego Floats the First "Potable Reuse" Project in California (PDF), November 18, 2008
Region May Soon Face Water Rationing (PDF), Daily Transcript, October 29, 2008
Our Neighbor to the North (PDF), Voice of San Diego, October 29, 2008
Flushed (PDF), Voice of San Diego, October 29, 2008
No More Desal on Tap (PDF), Voice of San Diego, October 29, 2008
High and Dry in San Diego (PDF), Voice of San Diego, October 28, 2008
Bundamba Facility Recycled Wastewater for Indirect Potable Reuse (PDF: 1Mb), World Water
As Seen on TV: Is Your Water Safe? (PDF), ABC News, October 15, 2008
Diversity is Key for Our Water Supply (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, October 13, 2008
How Sewage Gets Recycled (PDF), Voice of San Diego, October 3, 2008
From Toilet to Tap (PDF), Science Economist, September 26, 2008
More Drinking Water for San Diego (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, September 12, 2008
Drugs Affect More Drinking Water (PDF), North County Times, September 11, 2008
No Toilet-to-Tap (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, September 8, 2008
A Tall, Cool Drink of...Sewage? (PDF), The New York Times, August 8, 2008
Aguirre Questions Sanders' 'Behavior' on Water Plans (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, August 5, 2008
Water Project That Won't Be Aids Park That Will (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, July 28, 2008
More Water-Rate Hikes May Be Ahead (PDF), San Diego Union-Tribune, July 27, 2008
California's Water: A Vanishing Resource (PDF), San Diego San Diego Union-Tribune, June 11, 2008
Turning L.A. Wastewater to Tap Water (PDF), Los Angeles Times, June 7, 2008
New Los Angeles Water Plan Includes Recycling (PDF), Business News, May 19, 2008
Use of Treated Wastewater Possible in Wildomar (PDF), The Press-Enterprise, May 17, 2008
Sewer to Spigot: Recycled Water (PDF), The Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2008
L.A. Prepares Massive Water-Conservation Plan (PDF), Los Angeles Times, May 15, 2008
Tampa Wants to Increase Reclaimed Water Use (PDF), WaterTech Online.com, May 13, 2008
Water Recycling Bill Signed Into Law (PDF), Contra Cost Times, May 8, 2008
Flushing Away Fears - Toilet-to-Tap Water Recycling Gets Past the Yuck Factor (PDF), Governing.com, May 2008
Bill Mandates South Florida Reuse Wastewater (PDF), Local 10.com, May 2, 2008
On Tap in Space: Urine Will Not Go to Waste (PDF), USA Today, May 2008
Putting Recycled Water to Use in Washington State (PDF), BioCycle, May 2008
No Clear RX for Disposing of Drugs (PDF), San Francisco Chronicle, April 23, 2008
AWWA urges Science to Address Pharmaceuticals (PDF), April 16, 2008
Water Recycling Efforts Spark Policy Debate in California (PDF), Online NewsHour, March 24, 2008
Experts Discuss Water Reuse - Forum (PDF), Online NewsHour, March 24, 2008
'Recycled' Drinking Water May Get Look (With Poll) (PDF), Arizona Daily Star, March 17, 2008
Dozens of Pharmaceuticals Detected in Drinking Water (PDF), Online NewsHour, March 12, 2008
Drug Traces found by Local Water Supplies (PDF), NC Times, March 11, 2008
Water Providers and Researchers Rarely Release Full Test Results to the Public (PDF), NC Times, March 11, 2008
Pharmaceuticals Found in SD Drinking Water (PDF), SD News, March 10, 2008
Around the World, Research shows Pharmaceuticals in Water could Impact Human Cells (PDF), NC Times, March 10, 2008
From Tap to Sewer to Tap. Ew? (PDF), Chicagotribune.com, March 3, 2008
City: 3 Years to Recycle Sewage (PDF), Voice of San Diego, February 27, 2008
Californians Move to 'Toilet-to-Tap' Water Recycling (PDF), Online NewsHour, February 11, 2008
Reuse Project Scorecard (PDF), Water Desalination Report, February 11, 2008

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