Project Description

Pure Water Soquel is a water reuse project that will use proven, state-of-the-science technology to purify recycled water, producing safe, high-quality drinking water and providing a reliable, sustainable, and drought-resistant water supply. The purpose of the project is to provide a regional water supply to meet current and future demands, create a barrier against seawater intrusion into the aquifer, and ensure a sustainable groundwater basin to meet the California State Mandate by 2040. By utilizing recycled water, the project will reduce discharges of treated wastewater to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and lessen the need for potential future diversions from the San Lorenzo River and other sensitive waterways.

Project Benefits

• Lowers the degree of overdraft conditions in the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin to help meet the region’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan by 2040.
• Recycles treated wastewater and reduces treated wastewater discharges to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary by 25 percent.
• Replenishes the critically overdrafted Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin with purified recycled water to increase water supply and prevent seawater intrusion.
• Produces significant economic and environmental benefits to the community.
• Saves the city of Soquel an estimated $66.7 million from financing with a WIFIA loan compared to typical market financing.

• Soquel Creek Water District (PDF)(1 pg, 239 K)