El Paso Water (EPWater), a municipal utility, has initiated construction on the Pure Water Center, previously called the Advanced Water Purification Facility, in Texas, US.
The project is aimed at providing ‘sustainable, high-quality’ drinking water for the community in El Paso.
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The ground-breaking ceremony, attended by local, state, and federal leaders, also served as the platform to unveil the facility’s new name.
EPWater president and CEO John Balliew said: “After years of planning, design and thousands of water-quality tests, we are excited to begin construction on the Pure Water Center.
“This is the next step in El Paso’s long history of water reuse, and we hope it will serve as a model for other communities facing water-related challenges.”
EPWater has been working with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for over a decade to ensure the water produced will meet all state and federal safe drinking water standards.
TCEQ granted final design approval late last year, paving the way for construction to commence.
The Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant will provide treated water for the facility.
The treated water will then undergo a purification process involving several steps, including membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, UV light with advanced oxidation, granular activated carbon filtration, and chlorine disinfection, to surpass drinking water quality standards.
US-based Carollo Engineers has designed the Pure Water Center. The construction will soon begin with the PCL/Sundt joint venture.
Once completed, the facility will supply an additional ten million gallons of drinking water a day to the residents of El Paso.
The Pure Water Center will not only be a hub for water purification but also an educational resource.
A visitor centre is planned to provide insights into water sources, supplies, environmental stewardship, and advanced processes for water treatment.
In 2019, the US Bureau of Reclamation provided $3.5m for the facility’s design and committed another $20m in 2022 for construction.
With a total estimated project cost of $295m, EPWater is actively seeking further state and federal funding.
The construction of the Pure Water Center is expected to be completed by 2028.
In January this year, PCL Construction opened a Manufacturing Center of Excellence, focusing on increased investment in reshoring production for the US and Canada.
