FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mike McCullough, Monterey One Water Director of External Affairs
831-645-4618 | mikem@my1water.org
Additional Water for the Monterey Peninsula Coming Soon:
Water Purchase Agreement executed by all parties to expand the Pure Water Monterey Project
Monterey, Calif., April 6, 2023: The Monterey Peninsula will soon add another 2,250-acre feet per year of sustainable water to its supply portfolio with the expansion of Pure Water Monterey. California American Water, Monterey One Water, and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District have signed a water purchase agreement to increase purified water production for injection into the Seaside Groundwater Basin. The executed agreement was the final step for Monterey One Water, the owner and operator of Pure Water Monterey, to secure financing to construct the expansion.
“The expansion of Pure Water Monterey will produce needed water for the community and our staff and team are committed to bring this project online as quickly as possible.” said Paul Sciuto, General Manager of Monterey One Water.
Agency staff and project partners will be working diligently to implement this critical water supply project. To increase production capacity, additional treatment technology is needed at the Project’s Advanced Water Purification Facility along with additional infrastructure at the Project’s groundwater injection site within the former Fort Ord. The initial schedule, which considers procurement lead times and remnant supply chain realities, estimates operation of the project by the end of 2025.
Monterey One Water’s primary funding source will be a loan issued through the US Environmental Protection Agency. The Agency, along with the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD), has also been awarded approximately $42 million in state and federal grants to help offset the construction costs to expand Pure Water Monterey.
The Monterey region is isolated from state and federal water sources and must rely solely on its limited local water supplies. Optimization of all water resources is critical to meet the needs of our communities, and Pure Water Monterey is a national model for water reuse. Pure Water Monterey, the first potable reuse project in Northern California, utilizes advanced water treatment to turn four wastewater sources into a safe, dependable water supply that meets or exceeds strict state and federal drinking water standards. For the Monterey Peninsula, an additional 2,250-acre feet of sustainable water is enough to provide for approximately 10,000 households each year.
Dave Stoldt, General Manager of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District praised the signed agreement, “We applaud Cal-Am’s recognition that supplemental water is needed now, as soon as possible.” He also stated, “Their commitment to this project will enable $42 million of grants to be released and applied to the project.”
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About Monterey One Water
Monterey One Water is a public wastewater and water recycling agency serving cities and districts in northern Monterey County. The Agency is driven by its mission to turn the area’s wastewaters into safe, resilient water solutions for the community and the environment. Every day, Monterey One Water is responsible for cleaning approximately 17 million gallons of used water before safely reintroducing it into the environment. This is achieved through safe mixing with ocean water and water recycling efforts that support food crop irrigation and the drinking water supply.
