Newsroom

Media Contact

City of San Diego Communications Department 

• Email: communications@sandiego.gov 
• Phone: 619-533-4555

Media Kit

• 2020 Pure Water San Diego Media Kit

News Releases

2020

• Mayor Faulconer: Pure Water Flows Forward with Phase 1 Construction Bids, Aug. 7, 2020

2019

• City of San Diego Public Utilities Named a “Utility of the Future Today”, Sept. 24, 2019

2018

• EPA Awards $614 Million Loan to Bolster San Diego’s Innovative Pure Water Project, Nov. 27, 2018
• First Phase of Pure Water San Diego to Break Ground by Spring, Nov. 19, 2018
• Pure Water Moves Forward with Major EPA Loan, Construction to Start in 2019, Sept. 25, 2018
• City of San Diego Receives National Award for Using Recycled Water to Make Beer, June 20, 2018
• First Phase of Pure Water Takes Big Step Forward with Environmental Approval, April 10, 2018

2017

• EPA Renews Permit for Point Loma Plant, Paves Way for Landmark Pure Water Project, Aug. 7, 2017
• EPA Gives City's Pure Water Recycling Project a Major Boost, July 19, 2017
• Coastal Commission Renews Water Treatment Plant Permit Saving City $1.8 Billion, May 10, 2017

2016

• City Project to Divert Wastewater from Ocean Recognized in EPA Tentative Decision to Renew Treatment Plant Permit, Nov. 2, 2016
• City of San Diego Public Utilities Department Recognized as a Utility of the Future Today, Sept. 27, 2016
• Pure Water Facility Welcomes 10,000th Tour Participant, July 7, 2016
• City of San Diego Receives Prestigious Global Water Award, April 22, 2016

2015

• San Diego Public Utilities Department Wins U.S. Water Prize, April 14, 2015
• San Diego Public Utilities Department Honored with Public Outreach and Education Achievement Award, Jan. 23, 2015

2014

• Faulconer Lauds Vote to Move Forward on Pure Water, Nov. 18, 2014
• San Diego Public Utilities Department Honored with Public Affairs Award, Oct. 17, 2014
• City of San Diego Secures San Diego County Water Authority's Support for Potable Reuse Project, May 22, 2014
• City of San Diego Welcomes 5,000th Tour Guest to the AWP Facility, May 15, 2014
• City of San Diego Honored with WateReuse Association Community Outreach Award, March 18, 2014
• City of San Diego Honored with AWWA Outreach Award, Feb. 6, 2014

News Media Coverage

2020

• Pure Water San Diego project back on track, Global Water Intelligence Magazine, Aug. 20, 2020

• Pure Water San Diego Program achieves milestone, Water Finance & Management, Aug. 13, 2020

• San Diego Opens Bids for Wastewater Recycling Project: 1,000 Green Jobs, Times of San Diego, Aug. 7, 2020

• San Diego signs first-ever 'project labor deal' to help revive stalled $5B Pure Water project, San Diego Union-Tribune, July 31, 2020
• City awarded $1.47 million grant for Pure Water Facility Influent Pump Station and Conveyance Pipeline, California Department of Water Resources, July 3, 2020
• Reclamation awards $16.6M for water recycling and reuse projects, WaterWorld, June 11, 2020
• More Than $16 Million Provided to 9 Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects in the U.S., Environment + Energy Leader, June 9, 2020

2019

• Governor Signs Two Bills Crucial for San Diego’s Transit and Water Plans, Times of San Diego, Oct. 13, 2019

• Stressed Out, News Line Magazine, October 2019

• WateReuse Symposium Showcases City of San Diego’s Pure Water, Water News Network, Sept. 16, 2019

• Senior Administration Officials Connect with Southern California Water Projects that Highlight Water Reuse Solutions, The EPA Blog, Sept. 13, 2019

• San Diego’s Pure Water Program, Municipal Water Leader Magazine, Sept. 6, 2019

• Water recycling most sustainable method of conserving water – Experts, My Joy Online, Aug. 13, 2019
• Pure Water Day Delivers Pure Family Fun, Water News Network, June 24, 2019
• AWTO Certification San Diego’s Operator Training Program Kicks Off, CWEA E-Bulletin, April 16, 2019
• Ciutat Intelligent, TV 3 Televiso de Catalunya, March 31, 2019
• Bureau of Reclamation Awards $35.3 million to Six Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects in California, Bureau of Reclamation, Feb. 8, 2019

2018

• EPA Gives $614-million Loan to San Diego for Pure Water Project Development, CBS 8, Nov. 27, 2018

• Project to Turn Wastewater into Drinking Water to Begin Construction in Spring 2019, NBC 7, Nov. 16, 2018

• City to Begin Construction of Revolutionary Drinking Water Recycling Plant in Spring, Times of San Diego, Nov. 15, 2018

• The Surprising and Innovative Secret Behind San Diego’s Drinking Water, San Diego Beverage Times, Nov. 6, 2018

• Council OKs $614 Million for ‘Cutting Edge’ Recycled Drinking Water Project, Times of San Diego, Sept. 26, 2018

• Water Reuse: Building Legitimacy Through Practice, WaterWorld, July 1, 2018

• Impact Analysis Approved for San Diego’s Pure Water Program, Water Finance and Management, July 26, 2018

• Huge EPA Loan for San Diego Pure Water Sewage Recycling Closer to Reality, Times of San Diego, July 12, 2018

• San Diego Receives National Award for Using Recycled Water to Make Beer, San Diego Community Newspaper Group, June 21, 2018

• San Diego Praised for Recycled Water Used in Stone Brewing Beer, 10News, June 20, 2018

• National Bike to Work Day, KUSI, May 17, 2018

• Pure Water Moves Forward, Voice of San Diego, April 23, 2018

• Council Approves First Phase of Pure Water Project, KPBS, April 11, 2018

• Recycled Drinking Water for San Diego: City Approves Environmental Report, Times of San Diego, April 10, 2018

• Our Water Future - Interview with Juan Guerreiro, Deputy Director of Public Utilities Department, California Water Environment Association, April 10, 2018

• California to Add Recycled Water to Reservoirs, Water Online, March 14, 2018

• Recycled Water From Sewers Coming to California Taps, SF Gate, March 7, 2018

• Water Reuse Approved by California Water Board, Courthouse News Service, March 6, 2018

• San Diego Pursues Drought-Proof Water Supply, KPBS, Feb. 13, 2018

• Can New California Water Storage Projects Win State Funding?, News Deeply, Feb. 12, 2018

• Could Craft Breweries Help Lead the Way in Water Conservation?, Pacific Standard, Jan. 2, 2018

2017

• How Craft Brewers Are Embracing New Water Technologies, News Deeply, Dec. 18, 2017
• Henry Cluster STEMM Foundation News, Mission Times Courier, Nov. 17, 2017
• Securing Southern California's Water Future, WaterWorld, Nov. 16, 2017
• San Diego Plans to Borrow $1.2B for Ambitious Water Recycling Plan, The San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 17, 2017
• Pure Water San Diego North City Update, The Clairemont Times, Sept. 30, 2017
• Feds Push $3B Water Recycling Program in San Diego, Water Online, Aug. 14, 2017
• San Diego Nabs Approval for Plan to Recycle Sewage into Drinking Water, Smart Cities Dive, Aug. 9, 2017
• San Diego Gets OK to Continue Running Wastewater Plant, U.S. News, Aug. 8, 2017
• EPA Permit Paves Way for City's Landmark Recycling Project, Times of San Diego, Aug. 7, 2017
• U.S. EPA Approves Plan for San Diego to Recycle Sewage Into Drinking Water, The San Diego Union-Tribune, Aug. 7, 2017
• EPA Clears Way For San Diego to Treat Recycled Water for Drinking, KPBS, Aug. 7, 2017
• U.S. EPA and California Approve Permit for Point Loma Wastewater Facility, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Aug. 7, 2017
• Recycled Water: Better for Business, Better for the Long Haul, The Hill, Aug. 2, 2017
• EPA Selects 12 Projects to Apply for WIFIA Loans, WaterWorld, July 19, 2017
• $492M Loan OK’d for San Diego’s Recycled Drinking Water Project, Times of San Diego, July 19, 2017
• San Diego Eligible for Water Purification Plant Loan, Fox 5 San Diego, July 19, 2017
• San Diego Eligible to Pursue Low-Interest Federal Loan For Recycled Water Project, KPBS, July 19, 2017
• San Diego's Effort to Turn Sewage Into Drinking Water Could Get Huge Financial Boost From Feds, The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 19, 2017
• From EV Fleets to LED Streetlights, San Diego is America’s Premier Smart City, Digital Trends, June 26, 2017
• Pure Water Works: Politically Speaking, NBC 7 San Diego, May 29, 2017
• San Diego Mayor Touts Commitment to Sustainability, Launches Pure Water Initiative, The Planning Report, May 24, 2017
• San Diego’s Pure Water Program: A Sustainable Solution to Water Supply Challenges, Brookings, May 18, 2017
• Visionary Water Supply Projects in San Diego Set National Example, Times of San Diego, May 17, 2017
• Pure Water, Pure Gold for San Diego, The Water Network, May 16, 2017
• Time to Terminate Toilet-to-Tap Terminology, The San Diego-Union Tribune, May 15, 2017
• San Diego Moves Ahead With "Sewer to Tap" Plan, WaterWorld, May 11, 2017
• San Diego Moving Ahead With Sewage-to-Drinking Water Plan, U.S. News, May 11, 2017
• San Diego Will Drink Water Recycled From Sewage. Cheers., The San Diego Union-Tribune, May 11, 2017
• San Diego Will Recycle Sewage Into Drinking Water, Mayor Declares, The San Diego Union-Tribune, May 10, 2017
• New Permit for Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant Saves City $2 Billion, Times of San Diego, May 10, 2017
• City Approves Permit for Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, KPBS, April 12, 2017
• City’s Treatment Plant Permit Renewal Receives Approval by Local Water Board, San Diego Community Newspaper Group, April 12, 2017
• San Diego’s $3 Billion Water Recycling Plan Takes Another Step Forward, Times of San Diego, April 12, 2017
• California Brewer Uses Reclaimed Water in Experimental Beer, Voice of America, March, 31, 2017
• This Beer is Made from Toilet Water and it's Apparently Pretty Good!, NowThis, March 30, 2017
• Recycled Wastewater Beer Goes Down Easy the Second Time Around, Geek, March 27, 2017
• No, Stone Brewing Doesn’t Brew With Reclaimed Water. (Yet.), Beer Street Journal, March 27, 2017
• San Diego Breweries Experiment With Recycled Water, Smithsonian Magazine, March 27, 2017
• Stone Brewing Makes Special Beer From Recycled Wastewater, Latinos Health, March 26, 2017
• Beer Brewers Test a Taboo, Recycling Water After it Was Used In Homes, NPR, March 24, 2017
• This Beer is Made From Purified Wastewater, CNBC, March 24, 2017
• Stone Brews One With Reclaimed Water, San Diego Reader, March 23, 2017
• San Diego Brewers Tout Recycled Wastewater, Water Online, March 23, 2017
• Toilet to Tap: Brewery Creates Beer from Recycled Wastewater, Live Science, March 22, 2017
• WateReuse California Recognizes Recycled Water Leadership, Civil + Structural Engineer, March 21, 2017
• Stone Brews "Toilet" Beer Made from Recycled Wastewater, Food & Wine, March 21, 2017
• One Brewery's Latest Beer Took the Trip from the Toilet to the Tap, Mashable, March 21, 2017
• Beer Brewed With Recycled "Wastewater" is Apparently Safe and Delicious, Time, March 21, 2017
• Would You Drink Sewage Beer? New Brew Uses Treated Sewage Water, Big Think, March 21, 2017
• Stone Brewing Crafted a Beer Made With 100% Recycled Waste Water, Konbini, March 20, 2017
• This Craft Beer Made From Recycled Sewage Water Reportedly Tastes 'Fantastic,' Complex, March 20, 2017
• The Beer is Made From Sewer Water, But it Doesn’t Taste Like What You Find in Sewers, The Sacramento Bee, March 20, 2017
• Compliments are Swirling After Brewery Makes Beer With Treated Sewer Water, The Kansas City Star, March 20, 2017
• Craft Brewers Make Beer With Recycled Water for Competition, NBC 7 San Diego, March 19, 2017
• This Popular Brewery is Making Beer With Treated Sewage Water, SF Gate, March 18, 2017
• San Diego Brewery Makes Beer from Treated Sewage Water, Huffington Post, March 17, 2017
• Stone Demos "Fantastic" Beer Brewed from 100% Recycled Water, Times of San Diego, March 16, 2017
• New Permanent Exhibit at Fleet Explains San Diego's Water Supply, Times of San Diego, March 4, 2017
• The Key to San Diego's Water Independence: Sewage, CityLab, March 1, 2017
• Quenching the Thirst When the Well Runs Dry, Pure Water Creation in San Diego, On the Edge With April Mahoney, Jan. 30, 2017
• Recycling California's Water Supply, Mount Shasta News, Jan. 4, 2017

2016

• San Diego Partners With Youth to Educate the Community on Water Purification Technology, Public CEO, Nov. 28, 2016
• How Cities Plan to Fight Climate Change in the Trump Years, CityLab, Nov. 22, 2016
• The Rise of the Circular Economy in the Water World, Water Online, Nov. 15, 2016
• San Diego Accelerates Water Reuse Plans, Water Online, Nov. 9, 2016
• Potty Mouth: Would You Drink Recycled Toilet Water to Save the World? (Psst, You May Already Be Doing So), Salon, Nov. 4, 2016
• EPA Gives Tentative Approval to San Diego's Water Recycling Plan, Times of San Diego, Nov. 2, 2016
• Cheers to Water!, The Clairemont Times, Oct. 31, 2016
• U.S. EPA and California Propose Permit to Reduce San Diego Wastewater Discharges to the Ocean, Newsroom America, Oct. 31, 2016
• Permit to Reduce Wastewater Discharges to the Ocean in San Diego Proposed By EPA, State, WaterWorld, Oct. 31, 2016
• San Diego's Water Recycling Program Moves Forward at an Accelerated Pace, WaterWorld, Oct. 28, 2016
• San Diego Accelerates New Water Supply, The San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 27, 2016
• City Council Approves $3B Recycled Water Plan, Fox 5 San Diego, Oct. 26, 2016
• San Diego Approves $3 Billion Plan to Recycle Wastewater for Drinking, Times of San Diego, Oct. 25, 2016
• San Diego City Council Moves Forward with Wastewater Recycling Plan, Patch, Oct. 25, 2016
• City Council Approves $3B Water Treatment Plan, CBS 8 San Diego, Oct. 25, 2016
• San Diego City Council Approves Recycled Water Plan, KPBS, Oct. 25, 2016
• San Diego City Council Considers $3B plan to Recycle Wastewater Into Drinking Water, 10 News, Oct. 25, 2016
• San Diegans Invited to Sample Recycled Water, CBS 8 San Diego, Oct. 22, 2016
• Taste San Diego's High-Tech Recycled Water at Open House Saturday, Times of San Diego, Oct. 21, 2016
• Pure Water Day to Offer Tours, Tastings & More, Water Reuse Report, Oct. 20, 2016
• Pure Water Day, The Clairemont Times, Oct. 20, 2016
• City Council Committee Backs Environmental Impact Report for Recycled Water Plan, Fox 5 San Diego, Oct. 12, 2016
• Environmental Impact of "Pure Water" Plan Receives Approval, Patch, Oct. 12, 2016
• $3 Billion Plan to Recycle Wastewater into Drinking Water Gets Backing, Times of San Diego, Oct. 12, 2016
• How California is Learning to Love Recycled Water, News Deeply, Oct. 6, 2016
• Wastewater: A New Frontier for Recycling, News Deeply, Sept. 20, 2016
• Seven Ways San Diego is Becoming More Sustainable, eNews Channel Africa, Aug. 10, 2016
• San Diego Accelerates Water Recycling, The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 23, 2016
• California Eyes Recycling Wastewater for Drinking, News Deeply, July 15, 2016
• How California Could Reinvent the Water Sector, News Deeply, July 4, 2016
• Water Reuse and Reclamation Projects in California Get $30M Boost from Interior Department, Water World, June 10, 2016
• Recycled Water Key to California's Water Security, News Deeply, May 26, 2016
• Survey: 89% of Californians Willing to Use Recycled Water to Help Achieve Water Security, Underground Construction, May 10, 2016
• San Diego Officials Outline $130M Budget For Climate Action Plan, KPBS, May 3, 2016
• Faulconer: $127M for Climate Change Projects, The San Diego Union-Tribune, May 2, 2016
• San Diego Is ‘All In’ on Climate Change—And The World’s Noticing, Times of San Diego, April 27, 2016
• 2 San Diego-Area Water Projects Win International Recognition, Times of San Diego, April 23, 2016
• If Farm-to-Table Eating is Cool, What About Toilet-to-Tap Drinking?, Huffington Post, March 16, 2016
• Become a Changemaker, USD News Center, Feb. 22, 2016
• If You're Not Drinking Treated Sewer Water, You Soon Will Be, San Bernardino Sun, Feb. 1, 2016

2015

• Professor Honored for Implementing Student Project on Pure Water San Diego, USD News Center, Dec. 18, 2015
• What's at Stake in San Diego Water Rate Vote, KPBS, Nov. 16, 2015
• Plugging the Leaks, 360: The Magazine of San Diego State University, Nov. 13, 2015
• Water Czar, SDSU News Center/360: The Magazine of San Diego State University, Nov. 4, 2015
• Drought Leads Agenda for San Diego Binational Delegation Visit to Nation's Capital, KPBS, Sept. 24, 2015
• Projects for Recycling Water Expanding, San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept. 18, 2015
• Local Water Agencies are Making Moves to Take Control of Costs, Supply, Voice of San Diego, Sept. 16, 2015
• The 5 R's for Securing San Diego's Future Water Supply, Times of San Diego, Sept. 15, 2015
• Pure Water San Diego, Emerald News, September 2015
• San Diego's Water-saving Efforts Get Thumbs Up from Gov. Brown, NBC News, Aug. 11, 2015
• Gov. Brown Praises San Diego for Meeting Water Goals, Fox 5 News, Aug. 11, 2015
• Drought in the Western U.S. Pushes New Projects, Engineering News-Record, Aug. 5, 2015
• Public Outreach Helps Clear the Way for an Ambitious Wastewater Recycling Initiative, Treatment Plant Operator Magazine, Aug. 5, 2015
• Nine Water Purification Projects Bag US $1.49 Million in Funding, Desalination and Water Reuse, Aug. 4, 2015
• San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer to Speak at IDA World Congress, Water World, July 30, 2015
• Recycled Wastewater is Coming Sooner Than You Think, Voice of San Diego, June 16, 2015
• California Plant Transforming Sewage into Drinking Water, CBS This Morning, June 4, 2015
• Cutting Back as Tough Water Use Restrictions Begin, CBS 8, June 1, 2015
• San Diego a Finalist for Golden Watchdog Award, Times of San Diego, May 14, 2015
• Californians Tap Technology - and Psychology - to Stretch Water Supplies, Greenwire, May 12, 2015
• Recycled Drinking Water: Getting Past the Yuck Factor, The New York Times, May 8, 2015
• Gov. Jerry Brown Seeks Fines of Up to $10,000 a Day for Water Wasters, Los Angeles Times, April 28, 2015
• Gov. Brown Promises to Speed Up Water Projects for San Diego, CBS 8, April 28, 2015
• Faulconer to Lobby on Drought, UT San Diego, April 27, 2015
• Mayor Kevin Faulconer Traveling to Meet with Gov. Jerry Brown About Water Saving Measures During Drought, NBC San Diego, April 27, 2015
• Faulconer Wants Brown to OK Funds for Water Recycling Program, Fox 5 San Diego, April 27, 2015
• Poll: San Diego Ready to Save More Water if Drought Worsens, Times of San Diego, April 26, 2015
• Crazy and Not-So-Crazy Ideas for Solving the California Drought, Newsweek, April 23, 2015
• From Sewage to Drinking Water, UT San Diego, April 18, 2015
• San Diego Public Utilities Department Wins U.S. Water Prize, Water & Wastes Digest, April 17, 2015
• California Drought Gives ‘Toilet to Tap’ a New Level of Attention, CNBC, April 15, 2015
• San Diego Public Utilities Department Earns 2015 U.S. Water Prize, WaterWorld, April 15, 2015
• Workshop Set on Discussing Using Recycled Wastewater, Manteca Bulletin, March 23, 2015
• MWH, Brown & Caldwell to Provide Program Management Services for Pure Water San Diego, WaterWorld, March 5, 2015
• Creating a Drought-Proof Water Supply, Water & Wastes Digest, February 9, 2015
• San Diego's Water Purification Demonstration Project is Recognized as a Trailblazer, Water World, Jan. 27, 2015
• California Association of Sanitation Agencies Recognizes Water Purification Public Outreach Program, Public CEO, Jan. 26, 2015
• Purple Pipes vs. Indirect Potable Reuse, Water Online, Jan. 23, 2015
• Grants Drive 15M Gallon H2O Purification, Efficient Gov, Jan. 8, 2015
• What to Watch For in 2015, Voice of San Diego, January 1, 2015

2014

• Research Finds that Potable Reuse is the Most Affordable Source of New Water, WQP Magazine, Dec. 18, 2014
• San Diego Pure Water Program Approved!, Surfrider Foundation, Nov. 20, 2014
• San Diego Approves $3.5B Recycled Water Project, NBC 7 San Diego, Nov. 18, 2014
• San Diego is on the Verge of a Major Water Recycling Project, KPBS, Nov. 14, 2014
• Mayor Kevin Faulconer on Water Recycling, More, KPBS, November 14, 2014
• Mayor Backs Plan to Increase Use of Recycled Water, CBS 8 News, Nov. 13, 2014
• Faulconer Supports Plan to Turn Wastewater into Drinking Water, Fox 5 News, Nov. 13, 2014
• Recycling to Provide a Third of City's Water Under Plan, Times of San Diego, Nov. 13, 2014
• Securing San Diego's Water Future, UT San Diego, Nov. 13, 2014
• San Diego's Huge Water Deal Has Zero Enemies, Voice of San Diego, Nov. 12, 2014
• The US, South Africa and Australia are Turning Wastewater into Drinking Water, The Guardian, Oct. 13, 2014
• The Thirsty San Diegan’s Guide to New Water Projects, Voice of San Diego, Sept. 22, 2014
• San Diego, State Need Recycled Water to Meet Demand, UT San Diego, Sept. 12, 2014
• Can Technology Help Us Survive California's Drought?, Fortune, Aug. 11, 2014
• Get Used to Toilet-to-Tap Water, Californians Told, The Guardian, Aug. 7, 2014
• Drought Forces Many Places to Figure Out How to Recycle Wastewater, Governing, July 24, 2014
• Scientific American Lauds "Toilet to Tap" Project, Times of San Diego, June 26, 2014
• Leaders Consider Whether California is Ready to Drink Treated Sewage Water, KSBW-TV, June 25, 2014
• Special Edition: 10 Minutes with Halla Razak, BC Water News, June 17, 2014
• Potable San Diego, American City and County, June 12, 2014
• Sewage Water into Drinking Water Still Faces 'Yuck Factor', UT San Diego, May 20, 2014
• 4 Keys to Preserving San Diego's Leadership in Tech and Life Sciences, Times of San Diego, April 15, 2014
• Flushing out 'the Yuk Factor' of Wasted Water, UT San Diego, April 11, 2014
• Drought Continues as San Diego Looks at Reusable Water, KPBS, March 25, 2014
• How to Fix the 10 Worst Wastes of Water, Greenbiz, March 19, 2014
• California Drought: Orange County Expands "Toilet to Tap" Water Recycling, 89.3 KPCC Southern California Public Radio, March 6, 2014
• Why San Diego's Water Wonks Aren't Panicking, Voice of San Diego, Feb. 17, 2014