January 2012 President's Message

Water. It is the most abundant molecule on Earth.  Approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface is water. There is about 326 million cubic miles of water on Earth. Yet it is estimated that 1.1 billion people do not have easy access to drinking water. The United Nations states that there are 2.6 billion people without enough water sufficient for sanitation purposes such as washing hands, cooking food and so on.  Water is a precious resource. Each one of us needs clean, safe water to stay healthy and vibrant.
 
In the United States, about 346,000 million gallons of fresh water are used every day. We are fortunate to live in a country that can produce clean water at an affordable price. However it is getting harder to provide our larger, populated areas with sufficient supplies of water.  Not only are the sources of water far away from where the majority of people live, the supply of clean water is dwindling.  Better ways to transfer water and generate new sources through recycling are fast becoming alternatives in meeting our water demands.
 
The City of San Diego has limited local water sources and imports approximately 85 percent of its water supply. In the past, importing water from the Colorado River and Northern California had been a low-cost, reliable option, but environmental stresses and court-ordered pumping restrictions have continued to reduce the amount of water that can be delivered to San Diego. These circumstances and the threat of further limitations on our water supplies have intensified the need for new sources of water.
 
As part of the City’s effort to provide a local and sustainable water supply, the Water Purification Demonstration Project is examining the use of advanced water purification technology to provide safe and reliable water for San Diego’s future. The Demonstration Project will determine the feasibility of a full-scale reservoir augmentation project, which would diversify San Diego's water supply, reduce its dependence on imported water and provide a safe source of drinking water for residents.
 

The Advanced Water Purification (AWP) Facility is one component of the Demonstration Project. Located at the North City Water Reclamation Plant, the AWP Facility uses the most advanced technologies to purify one million gallons of recycled water per day. The process includes three treatment barriers that are being tested and monitored at the AWP Facility: membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, and advanced oxidation with ultraviolet disinfection and hydrogen peroxide.
 
Orange County’s Groundwater Replenishment (GWR) System is a full-scale advanced water purification facility located in Fountain Valley, California. The GWR System uses the same purification process being examined by the Demonstration Project to supply a safe and reliable water source to over 500,000 residents.
 
Anthony Van, Associate Engineer for the City of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department and Project Manager for the Water Purification Demonstration Project will present at our January meeting.  Come and hear about the project’s successes and where the data is taking the City on its quest to develop new water supplies.  The Demonstration Project is fascinating and a great program to kick off our 2012 luncheon meetings. I look forward to seeing you this month!
 
Dean Gipson P.E., M. ASCE
President, San Diego Section 2011-2012