OCEANSIDE — Test wells were recently installed 100 feet underneath the harbor bed to determine the number of wells and cost to treat and output 5 million gallons of drinkable water a day.
Installing test wells is the last component in evaluating the feasibility of pursuing desalinated water treatment.
The project started in 2006 with ground water studies and followed in 2010 with the evaluation of what type of treatment process would work.
The final plan is to collect well water influenced by seawater and then pump the water to the Mission Basin Facility site and treat it so it is drinkable.
Ratepayers have funded project studies, which have cost $1.23 million for the 2010 feasibility study and $1.33 million for the current well study.
The end result will be to increase the local water supply by 15 to 20 percent and raise the total local water supply to 30 to 35 percent.
“As water rates go up there’s more public awareness about rate driven factors that are outside of our control (rates for imported water),” Cari Dale, city water utilities director, said. “The reaction has been very positive.”
“It’s a signature investment for the city.”
The number and location of permanent wells has not been determined. It is likely that at least one of the test wells will become the site of a permanent well.
The harbor location was selected because placing wells there has the least impact on wildlife habitats.
“The area was already disturbed with pavement,” Dale said. “That eliminates the environmental issue all together.
The (San Luis Rey) river has habitat. You can’t dig bush or disturb nests.”
The final go-ahead for the project after well testing requires City Council approval to build permanent wells, pipelines and a treatment facility. Permanent wells are expected to last an estimated 100 years with regular maintenance.
“In the best case scenario the facility will be constructed in 2022,” Dale said.
2 comments
Oh, great idea. Drill wells downstream while run off from a toxic dump is put into the river upstream. Isn’t that like pissin’ into the wind?
“The San Luis Rey river has habitat. You can’t dig bush or disturb nests.” But, apparently, you CAN propose to put a toxic waste dump directly ON the San Luis Rey River at Gregory Canyon. If you think water rates are high now, just wait until the river and aquifers, on which Oceanside relies as their primary water source, is polluted by hazardous waste, running right into beaches and the harbor. Mayor Jim Wood & Cari Dale Thursday night spoke AGAINST placing the dump at Gregory Canyon, along with members of ACTION and hundreds of others. Gary Felien, Jack Feller & the Building Industry Association spoke in FAVOR of the dump.
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