New plant addresses county’s water issues
The San Diego County Water Authority celebrated the opening of a 100-million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant last month. The facility reduces the county’s dependence on drinking water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and treats water using submerged membranes, provided by Trevose, Pa.-based GE Water & Process Technologies, which remove dirt and bacteria from water as it is drawn through fine pores in membrane fibers. Integrated with the county’s emergency water delivery system, the new plant will deliver treated water rather than untreated water if imported water delivery is ever interrupted, eliminating the need to issue boil-water notices. The Water Authority owns the facility, which was designed, built and will be operated by Englewood, Colo.-based CH2M HILL for the next 15 years.