Removing Water Contaminants at Three Water Plants in San Diego

There are three water plants in San Diego that treat water before it is safe for the general public to drink it.  They are located in Miramar, Alvarado and Otay. Their job is to remove different contaminants such as:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses and bacteria)
• Inorganic contaminants (salts and metals)
• Pesticides
• Organic chemical contaminants (byproducts of petroleum and urban storm run-off water).

The Alvarado and Miramar plants use ozone for disinfection, and the Otay location uses chlorine dioxide.

The City of San Diego’s $3 billion Pure Water San Diego Program has achieved a significant milestone on its path to providing one-third of San Diego’s water supply locally by the end of 2035. A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit has been granted to the City by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board to add purified water to the Miramar Reservoir for Phase 1 of the Program.

Read more about the Pure Water San Diego Program.