Celebrating the Grand Opening of the Padre Dam Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Pilot Plant
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exciting event that took place in my district this past week on April 10, 2015, by the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. The Grand Opening of the Padre Dam Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Pilot Plant in Santee, California is an important and critical step in the overall effort by San Diego County to become more water independent as a region and maintain the very best in our water management practices.
We all know that California is currently in the midst of a severe multi-year drought, but ensuring our communities can rely on being provided with clean and healthy water has been the mission of Padre Dam for many decades. In fact, on this same day in 1962, founding General Manager of Padre Dam Ray Stoyer wrote to President Kennedy complimenting him on his commitment to the science of water management innovation and requesting his assistance in a groundbreaking water reclamation study and project at Padre Dam. President Kennedy supported the District's reclamation efforts and today the appropriately named Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility treats and recycles more than two million gallons of water per day. Over the years, these efforts have been recognized by the California Water Environment Association, which awarded this facility its ``California Plant of the Year'' designation in 2005, as well as naming it ``San Diego Plant of the Year'' multiple times in 1977, 1978, 1981, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2010.
I am pleased to see that this proud tradition is being carried on with Padre Dam's most recent effort in its Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Pilot Plant. Funded through a $3 million state grant, this innovative project will test the feasibility of creating a new source of approximately 2,000 to 3,000 acre feet of purified water for East San Diego County. If successful, this project has the potential to provide up to 20% of our current drinking water demand via a locally-controlled, independent, drought-proof and environmentally sound water supply, thereby reducing our dependency on outside sources of imported water.
California's current drought conditions, coupled with San Diego's historical reliance on imported water, mandate that we pursue every alternative that will lead to the San Diego region expanding its resource portfolio and utilize an ``all the above'' approach to water management. This includes traditional efforts such as conservation and reservoir and aquifer storage, as well as taking advantage of new technologies and science in the areas of desalination and reclamation projects like the one developed by Padre Dam which we are today recognizing.
My colleagues, I ask that you join me in congratulating Padre Dam Municipal Water District for its forward-thinking vision and willingness to pursue new ideas on an old, but important, problem. Everyone at the District, from leadership to all members of staff, is making a direct positive impact in our community and I am confident that your investment will prove to be valuable in helping us reach both our short and long-term water management goals.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source