Expansion Begins on Groundwater Replenish System

McCarthy Building Companies recently began construction on the expansion of the groundwater replenishment system for the Orange County Water District's Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) in Fountain Valley, according to news reports.

The $142.7M project will create an additional 31,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) of new water supplies to serve north and central Orange County. Once completed, the AWPF's total production will reach 103,000 AFY, enough water for 850,000 people.

The groundwater replenishment system treats and purifies wastewater, diverting it from the Pacific Ocean and cycling it back into Orange County’s water supply.

Newport Beach-based McCarthy also will build a new 32,000-square-foot reverse-osmosis building, increasing the Fountain Valley facility’s capacity by 30 million gallons per day. The AWPF already is the largest water treatment facility of its kind in the world, processing up to 70 million gallons of water per day.

The formal groundbreaking event with local, county and state elected officials, as well as water retail agencies and representatives from the design firm and construction team was held on January 17, marking the start of the project.

Construction is expected to be completed by September 2014.