Dedication Ceremony for the City of Escondido’s New Water Reuse Facility | North County Daily Star
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| Construction of Escondido’s $65 million Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility) completed recently, marking a milestone in the city’s goal of providing agriculture growers a high-quality irrigation supply and easing the burden on its wastewater infrastructure. |
Summary
Based on the information provided, here's a summary of how Escondido is recycling water for agriculture:
1. Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis (MFRO) Facility:
- Escondido has completed construction of a $65 million MFRO facility, specifically designed for agricultural use.
- This facility can produce up to 2 million gallons per day of high-quality recycled water.
2. Treatment Process:
- The facility treats a portion of the city's existing recycled water from the Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility (HARRF).
- It uses membrane filtration (MF) and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies to purify the water.
3. Blending:
- The treated water is blended with untreated recycled water to achieve a salt concentration suitable for agricultural irrigation.
4. Distribution:
- A new recycled water conveyance and distribution system pipes the blended water to agricultural areas, particularly avocado orchards.
5. Benefits:
- Provides a reliable, affordable, and high-quality water supply for local agriculture.
- Reduces reliance on imported water and potable water for irrigation.
- Eases the burden on the city's wastewater infrastructure and ocean outfall.
- Creates a separate revenue stream for the city.
- Offers lower water rates for farmers.
6. Environmental Impact:
- Reduces secondary treated effluent discharges to the Pacific Ocean.
- Increases local water resiliency.
7. Funding:
- The project was funded through various sources, including a State Revolving Fund Loan, Title XVI Grant, and Prop 84 IRWM Grant.
This project represents a significant step in water conservation and reuse, particularly beneficial for the agricultural sector in Escondido, addressing both water scarcity and the need for sustainable irrigation practices.
Dedication Ceremony for the City of Escondido’s New Water Reuse Facility | North County Daily Star
A first-of-its-kind facility strictly for agriculture use in the State of California
Escondido, Calif. — With the recently completed AgX MFRO, a membrane filtration (MF) and reverse osmosis (RO) water reuse treatment plant, the City of Escondido has achieved an important milestone in its goal of creating a high-quality alternative to potable water for local agriculture growers. With this remarkable facility beginning operations, the City and its partners, including the Filanc Brown and Caldwell (FBC) Joint Venture, will hold a dedication ceremony on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, from 2 – 3 p.m.
In collaboration with the City, through the progressive design-build delivery method, F+BC completed construction for this new $65M two-million-gallon-per-day facility in November 2023. The AgX MFRO facility takes water redirected from an ocean outfall, which was reaching capacity and would have cost hundreds of millions of dollars to upsize. Instead, water is now redirected to the MFRO facility and treated for beneficial reuse by producing water with levels of salinity ideal for agriculture e.g., avocado growers. This results in lower water rates for farmers and a separate revenue stream for the City, and offsets the potable water the farmers previously used, making the supply available for other users and increasing local water resiliency.
This project is a rare win-win water solution for augmenting supply while alleviating demand. In an era of water scarcity, it provides a sustainable, local supply and a cost-effective alternative to potable water.
“This is an important milestone for Escondido’s recycled water system,” said Angela Morrow, City of Escondido Director of Utilities. “The MFRO facility will provide a reliable, affordable, and high-quality water supply to our agricultural community for generations to come while beneficially reusing wastewater and reducing our reliance on imported water.”
Project Funding
Funding for this project was provided in full or in part through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board. California’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund is capitalized through a variety of funding sources, including grants from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and state bond proceeds. The content of this document does not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the foregoing, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. In addition, funding for this project has also been provided in part through agreements with the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and State of California, Department of Water Resources.
Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis (MFRO) Facility
The MFRO Facility will treat a portion of the City’s existing recycled water supply from the Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility (HARRF) using membrane filtration (“MF”) and reverse osmosis (“RO”) technologies, and will have a maximum production capacity of 2.0 million gallons per day. The MFRO product water will be blended with recycled water that has not been treated by the MFRO process to produce water with a salt concentration appropriate for agricultural irrigation. The blended water will then be pumped to agricultural users. The MFRO Facility will provide high‐quality water that is low in total dissolved solids and chlorides to high-water-demand agricultural growers who serve a vital role in the City’s economy.
The MFRO Facility will be constructed at 901 W Washington Avenue, west of N Spruce Street. The MFRO Facility Project includes three major components:
- MFRO facility and associated equipment
- One-mile product water pipeline to be installed in Washington Avenue from the proposed MFRO location to Waverly Place
- Intermediate Booster Pump Station (“IBPS”) to be located at Mountain View Park
Project Funding Sources
- State Revolving Fund Loan - $45,000,000
- Title XVI Grant - $8,000,000
- Prop 84 IRWM Grant - $2,000,000
Contacts
- Eric Iglesias - Field Engineering Inspector 760-504-9373
- Randy Manns - Utilities Construction Project Manager 760-839-6290, x7031
Additional Information
californiaconstructionnews.comConstruction starts on $65 new membrane filtration reverse osmosis treatment facility in Escondido
Construction of Escondido’s $65 million Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility) commenced recently, marking a milestone in the city’s goal of providing agriculture growers a high-quality irrigation supply and easing the burden on its wastewater infrastructure.
The MFRO Facility will treat a portion of the city’s existing Title 22 recycled water supply from the Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility through membrane filtration (MF) and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies. The MFRO product water will then blend with recycled water untreated by the MFRO process to produce up to four million gallons per day (MGD) of water with a salt concentration appropriate for agricultural irrigation.
A newly-built recycled water conveyance and distribution system will pipe the blended water to outlying parts of the city for beneficial use by Escondido’s local growers, mainly avocado orchards. The increased use of recycled water will in turn reduce secondary treated effluent discharges to the Pacific Ocean and ease the burden on Escondido’s outfall which is reaching capacity, saving an estimated $1 billion to upsize.
“This is an important milestone for Escondido’s recycled water system,” said Angela Morrow, the City of Escondido’s Deputy Director of Utilities. “The MFRO Facility will provide a reliable, affordable, and high-quality water supply to our agricultural community for generations to come, while beneficially reusing wastewater and reducing our reliance on imported water.”
Since summer 2019, a joint venture of Filanc and Brown and Caldwell has been providing engineering design, construction, and operational phase services for all aspects of the MFRO Facility, the first design-build project in the city’s history.
“We applaud the City of Escondido on successfully reaching this landmark milestone,” said Filanc Design-Build project manager Gary Silverman. “The JV is honored to collaborate with the city and their owner’s agent, Black & Veatch, through this historic progressive design-build recycled water project.”
Construction, startup, and commissioning of the MFRO Facility is scheduled for substantial completion by early 2023.
RO filtration facility in Escondido breaks ground
ESCONDIDO, CA -- Construction of Escondido’s $65 million Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility) commenced recently, marking a milestone in the City’s goal of providing agriculture growers a high-quality irrigation supply and easing the burden on its wastewater infrastructure.
The MFRO Facility will treat a portion of the City’s existing Title 22 recycled water supply from the Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility through membrane filtration (MF) and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies. The MFRO product water will then blend with recycled water untreated by the MFRO process to produce up to four million gallons per day (MGD) of water with a salt concentration appropriate for agricultural irrigation.
A newly-built recycled water conveyance and distribution system will pipe the blended water to outlying parts of the City for beneficial use by Escondido’s local growers, mainly avocado orchards. The increased use of recycled water will in turn reduce secondary treated effluent discharges to the Pacific Ocean and ease the burden on Escondido’s outfall which is reaching capacity, saving an estimated $1 billion to upsize.
“This is an important milestone for Escondido’s recycled water system,” said the City of Escondido’s Deputy Director of Utilities Angela Morrow. “The MFRO Facility will provide a reliable, affordable, and high-quality water supply to our agricultural community for generations to come, while beneficially reusing wastewater and reducing our reliance on imported water.”
Since summer 2019, a joint venture of Filanc and Brown and Caldwell has been providing engineering design, construction, and operational phase services for all aspects of the MFRO Facility, the first design-build project in the city’s history.
“We applaud the City of Escondido on successfully reaching this landmark milestone,” said Filanc Design-Build Project Manager Gary Silverman. “The JV is honored to collaborate with the City and their owner’s agent, Black & Veatch, through this historic progressive design-build recycled water project.”
Construction, startup, and commissioning of the MFRO Facility is scheduled for substantial completion by early 2023.
Local avo irrigation hot topic thanks to climate change | Escondido Grapevine
May 19, 2016. I North County, CA. USA. | Avocados Groves in San Diego North County/Jamie Scott Lytle. Copyright.
San Diego County used to be home to nearly 25,000 acres of avocado trees but today there are about 14,000. The drastic decrease is largely due to rising costs associated with avocado production, namely the cost of water.
On September 28, avocado growers gathered at the San Diego County Farm Bureau offices for an Avocado Irrigation Workshop facilitated by Ali Montazar, University of California Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Imperial, Riverside and San Diego counties.
“All of our information being developed right now is focused on [irrigation] efficiency. Growers want to know how much water they need and what tools they should use to be more efficient,” explained Montazar.
Workshop attendee John Burr, who has been growing avocados for 15 years, confirmed that irrigation represents over half of his annual production costs and that meeting the needs of his trees is a constant challenge.
“The sophisticated research in avocado irrigation that Dr. Ali Montazar is conducting is the first of its kind that the University of California has carried out specifically in avocados. His presentation allowed us attendees the opportunity to see and learn about the technology he is employing – from soil moisture sensors to the California Irrigation Management Information System level equipped station.”
Burr is hopeful that Montazar’s research will help avocado growers accurately determine the evapotranspiration in an avocado grove or water use specific to avocados, critical parts of how growers select tools to determine irrigation runtimes.
“His presentation that showed his research finding of the avocado [crop coefficient or] Kc while very early into his project, was really interesting. It indicates the possibility that we may need to vary the Kc for different times in the growing season, but he is just beginning a two-to-three-year project that will hopefully deliver solid data on what the Kc for avocados is,” said Burr.
Colorado River uncertainty looms
San Diego’s avocado production is primarily managed by small farms. According to Montazar, this adds a level of complexity to water management because there is a greater emphasis on irrigation tools and strategies being user-friendly and cost-efficient.
“We don’t know the future,” said Montazar. “But we need to be prepared for all consequences. The Colorado River is experiencing a significant water shortage, and this could impact the water supply source for San Diego County from the Imperial Irrigation District Transfer in the future. It is wise to consider enhancing irrigation efficiency as the most viable tool to manage limited water supplies in Southern California.”
Water has always been an issue. In the 1970s, California’s water program paved a way for an additional 98,000 acres of agricultural land.
According to a 1970 study analyzing the cost of avocado production in San Diego County, water costs “averaged 3½ acre feet per acre at $60 an acre foot,” which came with the assumption that water costs would remain relatively low and affordable for a long time.
Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. The county of San Diego gets the majority of its water from the Colorado River, which is concerning given five-year projections of the river reaching critically low reservoir levels by 2027.
In fact, beginning in 2023, the San Diego County Water Authority will be raising the rates for water, prompting growers to invest in more efficient irrigation practices (Table 1).
Table 1. Cost for untreated and treated water in San Diego County in 2022 and 2023.
| 2022 | 2023 | |
| Cost for untreated water (per acre-foot) | $1,523 | $1,579 ($54 increase) |
| Cost for treated water (per acre-foot) | $1,833 | $1,929 ($96 increase) |
NOTE: An acre-foot is about 325,900 gallons of water.
Training growers on irrigation a top priority
California grower Gabe Filipe checks out avocados that will be marketed by Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, Calif. “California’s quality has been really good this season,” says Robb Bertels, Mission’s vice president of sales and marketing. The Irvine-based California Avocado Commission expects 392 million pounds of avocados to be harvested this crop year — about 40% more than last year/Mission Produce Inc.
There are no loopholes or short cuts when it comes to irrigation because irrigation is the key to tree health. Ben Faber, Cooperative Extension subtropical crops advisor for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, points out that tree health is how growers stay in business.
“You can mess up your fertilization program, and you can mess up your pesticide program, but if you mess up your irrigation program, you’re out of business,” he said.
According to Faber, efficient irrigation requires a strong grasp on salt management.
“We import water that has a lot of salt in it. So, you’ve got to figure out how to put the right amount of water on the root zone without causing root health problems,” said Faber.
This process requires meticulous care, as anything that gets below the root zone can cause groundwater contamination – something growers do not want to be responsible for.
While the latest irrigation technology, such as smart controllers, could help growers, Faber said that training and educating farm managers should be the priority.
As Faber puts it, managing irrigation should be “like brushing your teeth” – something that growers do naturally and competently. Many growers are over-irrigating or wasting time trying to resuscitate dying trees. It’s important to learn the needs of the tree and, in some cases, it might be best to stop watering all together.
The first step to water efficiency is acquiring knowledge and identifying needs. Because an over-irrigated tree looks just like an under-irrigated tree, it’s crucial that growers learn to recognize the difference and plan accordingly.
This is where Cooperative Extension advisors and researchers come in. Opportunities like the Avocado Irrigation Workshop are ideal for growers looking for answers or support.
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— By Saoimanu Sope, University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR For more information and to learn about future workshops in San Diego County, visit https://cesandiego.ucanr.edu/.
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