Smart Water Magazine
With the recently completed AgX MFRO, the new $64M two-million-gallon-per-day facility membrane filtration (MF) and reverse osmosis (RO) water reuse treatment plant, the City of Escondido has achieved an important milestone in its goal of creating a high-quality alternative to potable water for local agriculture growers.
With this facility beginning operations, the City and its partners the Filanc Brown and Caldwell (FBC) Joint Venture, held a dedication ceremony on August 28, 2024. Among the more than 100 attendees were Director of Utilities Angela Morrow, Mayor Dane White, City Manager Sean McGlynn, Deputy City Manager Chris McKinney, and other city representatives along with State Water Resources Control Board representatives, and key members of the FBC team and agriculture community. The ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting and a facility tour.
Angela Morrow, City of Escondido Director of Utilities, said: “This is an important milestone for Escondido’s recycled water system. The AgX MFRO facility will provide a reliable, affordable, and high-quality water supply to our agricultural community for generations to come while beneficially reusing wastewater and reducing our reliance on imported water.”
Completed in November 2023 using the progressive design-build delivery method, this innovative project redirects water from an ocean outfall that was nearing capacity to the AgX MFRO facility for beneficial reuse treatment, saving the city millions. The new facility produces water with levels of salinity ideal for agriculture, mainly avocado growers. This results in lower water rates for farmers and a separate revenue stream for the city, offsets the potable water the farmers previously used, and makes the supply available for other users and increasing local water resiliency. Funding for this project was provided in part through an agreement with the California State Water Resources Control Board.
This project is a rare win-win water solution for augmenting supply while alleviating demand. In an era of water scarcity, it provides a sustainable, local supply and a cost-effective alternative to potable water.
J.P. Semper, BC Project Manager. said: “In our industry, we view exceptional projects through the lens of three tangential circles: the environmental, the economic and the social. Those projects that fall in the center and embody all three are regarded as truly innovative and industry leading—today, we’re inside one of those projects.”
The City of Escondido has been awarded the Large Recycled Water Agency of the Year by WateReuse California for its outstanding efforts in developing recycled water as a significant alternative water source. This recognition highlights the City’s leadership, creativity, and persistence in implementing a comprehensive water recycling program and engaging the community to expand awareness and usage.
