EMWD breaks ground for new water treatment facility

A design graphic shows the future treatment plant, to be located in the center of the image, just north of the current facility bordering Salt Creek and between Murrieta Road and Valley Boulevard.

Eastern Municipal Water District officials celebrated groundbreaking today for EMWD's third water treatment facility at its complex serving Menifee and Perris on Murrieta Road.

The facility, named the Perris II Reverse Osmosis Treatment Facility, will be built on what is now an open field just north of the current EMWD plant, bordering Salt Creek and between Murrieta Road and Valley Boulevard. The plant will significantly increase the amount of drinkable water for the area.

The facility will do this by removing salt from brackish groundwater basin water and exporting the salt through a regional brine line, according to an EMWD news release.

"This is a milestone day for our District and would not be possible without the support of our state and federal funding partners," EMWD President Ron Sullivan (left) said during today's ceremony at the project site. "We appreciate their support and know this will provide a sustainable water supply source for our communities."

Funding for the project included $22.5 million from the State Water Resources Control Board; $25 million in authorizations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including the construction of four new wells; and $1.2 million from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

EMWD will also receive up to $29 million in credits from The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California through its Local Resources Program, which incentivizes agencies to invest in local water supplies.

The project is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2021.

"This facility will further help expand our local groundwater supplies and help provide a reliable water supply, even during extended dry periods throughout the state," Sullivan said. "As we face a number of water supply challenges throughout the state, EMWD is proud to invest locally so that we may continue to meet the needs of our customers for future generations."

Paul Jones, general manager of EMWD, tried to put the impact of the project into perspective in addressing the crowd.

"This is an historic event for us," Jones said. "Once this project is completed, the three reverse osmosis facilities, including the Perris and Menifee facilities, will ultimately provide enough potable water for 30,000 households in a year. If you think about it, that's a small city. The Perris II facility by itself will produce nearly 6,000 acre feet of water that will directly serve the growing residential and business communities in the surrounding area.

"In addition, we specifically designed the project for the future expansion of Valley Boulevard, so it can ultimately intersect with the street out here (Murrieta Road). We appreciate the coordination with the City of Menifee to allow us to be consistent with their efforts for Valley Boulevard in the future."

Today's ceremony was attended by Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman as well as council members Lesa Sobek and Dean Deines.

Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman (second from left) joined regional water resource officials in the groundbreaking ceremony.