Pure Water Soquel – Santa Cruz County
Soquel Creek Water District faces a significant challenge. Our current water supply entirely depends on a shared groundwater basin that is critically over-drafted and contaminated by seawater intrusion. Our region receives no imported water and relies solely on local resources.
Recognising the gravity of this situation, our Board of Directors embarked on a dedicated 10-year journey to address this issue. This endeavour has led to the creation of the Pure Water Soquel project, which is currently in the construction phase and is set to become operational in early 2025. We are also in the process of developing a visitor center and organising facility tours to showcase our progress, and we invite everyone to stay updated on our efforts by visiting www.purewatersoquel.com.
Pure Water Soquel represents a vital step towards ensuring a reliable water supply for more than 44,000 residents in Santa Cruz County, especially in the face of seawater contamination, droughts and changing climate patterns.
The project will provide up to 1.3 million gallons (5 million litres) per day of purified water (around 35% of total water needs) for groundwater replenishment to create a seawater intrusion barrier and aid in basin sustainability.
Our program includes a robust outreach program including our Mobile Educational Trailer (WateReuse Association National Award for Excellence in Outreach) and created Pure Water Kombucha with purified water from Orange County Water District to help gain greater acceptance of purified recycled water.
Notably, we are honoured that our project has been chosen as one of just 16 worldwide initiatives to be featured in the ‘Beneath the Surface: The Journey of Water’ Film Series. This series, presented by the International Water Association and produced in collaboration with BBC StoryWorks and Black & Veatch, highlights the pioneering innovations and visionaries driving positive change in the realm of water sustainability.
Related resources:
Press Releases
Reclamation awards Soquel Creek Water District $30 million
Pure Water Soquel – One of Only 16 Projects Worldwide in ‘Beneath the Surface: The Journey of Water
Pure Water Soquel “Butterfly” Logo Gains State-wide Recognition, Receives Design Award
District Receives WateReuse Association’s 2018 Award of Excellence in Outreach & Education