Council approves amended East County agreement to build residuals line, protecting Pure Water project

The San Diego City Council on Jan. 14 approved an amended and restated agreement with the East County Advanced Water Purification Joint Powers Authority to build a residuals pipeline and perform rehabilitation of the East Mission Gorge force main, a measure city officials said is essential to protecting the Pure Water Phase 1 program.

Lisa Sly, executive assistant director of the Public Utilities Department, told the council the East County project would produce concentrated brine that the city's Pure Water Phase 1 facilities were not designed or permitted to treat. "Without this new residuals pipeline, the East County JPA would have the right to discharge the byproducts of its advanced water purification process ... upstream of our Pure Water Phase 1 project facilities," Sly said, summarizing the technical risks and energy costs of trying to treat high-salinity brine in the Pure Water system.

Jordan Moore of the independent budget analyst's office said his office's report (No. 25-03) quantified scope changes and cost escalations and concluded the amended agreement represents a better option for ratepayers than the alternative of redesigning Pure Water or upgrading Point Loma. "Our office recommends council approve the amended agreement today," Moore said.

Supporters at the hearing, including Philip Musikas of San Diego Coastkeeper and Lonnie Lutar representing the East County JPA, said moving forward would reduce the risk of sewer spills and protect investments already made in Pure Water. "If we don't act, we would interrupt the city's ability to produce pure water," Lutar told the council.

Council members who backed the measure emphasized the trade-offs: several said the updated, higher price tag was preferable to jeopardizing the multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar investment already made in Pure Water Phase 1. Council member Whitburn moved to approve staff's recommendation; the motion passed 8–1, with Council member Foster casting the lone no vote after raising concerns about future cost controls and rate impacts.

What happens next: the amended agreement clears the path for the residuals line and associated force main work to proceed under the city's management and cost-allocation approach. The clerk had noted the item requires six votes under Charter Section 99. City staff and the IBA said they will continue providing updates to council on project scope, cost allocation, and mitigation steps for rate impacts.

Notes: Officials told the council the residuals line was estimated in staff slides to cost roughly $80 million for the residuals pipeline plus more for the force main and related rehabilitation; the presentation cited condition assessments, tunnel requirements (Caltrans), night work and utility relocations as drivers of increases.