Central Coast Blue would provide a drought resistant, sustainable local water supply while also improving and protecting water quality in the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation recently awarded the City of Pismo Beach $16.6M to help fund Central Coast Blue, an indirect potable reuse project to recover water currently discharged into the ocean and protect the local groundwater basin against seawater intrusion, from Reclamation’s Title XVI Program.
Located in California’s central coast, the project includes construction of an advanced water purification facility that uses ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet advanced oxidation process to treat wastewater to the required level of quality for groundwater injection. The project also includes construction of injection wells to recharge the groundwater basin with purified water. Up to 4,390 acre-feet per year of recycled water would be injected into the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin, enhancing the health of the larger watershed.
“We are pleased to make this investment from Reclamation’s Title XVI Program for this important water reuse project in California’s central coast region to help recycle and restore their groundwater supply, a critical need in California’s changing climate,” said Reclamation California-Great Basin Regional Director Karl Stock.
“Being awarded these funds supports the City of Pismo Beach in our efforts to provide a drought resilient, sustainable local water supply for our communities,” said Pismo Beach City Manager Jorge Garcia. “Recharging the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin with purified water using state-of-the-art technologies will not only protect the basin from seawater intrusion but will benefit Southern San Luis Obispo County for generations.”
In August 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the allocation of $309.8 million in funding from the President’s Investing in America agenda for the planning, design and construction of water reuse projects across the country.
Approximately $14 million from this contract comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and nearly $2.5M from Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act.
Through BIL, Reclamation is investing a total of $8.3 billion over five years for water infrastructure projects, including water purification and reuse, water storage and conveyance, desalination, and dam safety.
Learn more about Central Coast Blue at https://www.centralcoastblue.com/.
