Water Quality

How many water quality parameters are tested for in Pure Water Monterey’s Advanced Water Purification Facility?

In the AWPF alone, Monterey One Water’s (M1W) certified team of lab personnel and operators will generate 15,905 unique data points a year to ensure public and environmental health and safety. However, the testing does not start or stop in the Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF). Before the water even enters the AWPF, it will go through M1W’s primary and secondary treatment processes for wastewater treatment. This water is also routinely monitored and tested. Once the water leaves the AWPF and is injected into the Seaside Groundwater Basin, additional sampling and monitoring of the Seaside Groundwater Basin will continue for the duration of the project.

Is the Monterey One Water (M1W) Lab certified?

The M1W lab is certified through the State Water Resources Control Board’s Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP). The mission of ELAP is to implement a sustainable accreditation program that ensures laboratories generate environmental and public health data of known, consistent, and documented quality to meet stakeholder needs. Regular site-specific renewal (on-site inspection) is required to maintain ELAP certification.

Who is involved in analyzing and developing this safe and sustainable project for our community?

In addition to the internal and consulting team of engineers, laboratory analysts, and subject matter specialists, an Independent Expert Advisory Panel was convened to provide a neutral, third-party scientific review of the Project and specifically its treatment and monitoring processes. Panelists included industry experts in chemical, environmental, and civil engineering, wastewater treatment, hydrogeology, environmental health, water quality, and regulatory affairs. Appointed and administered by the National Water Research Institute, the panel has provided valuable insight and knowledge to the Pure Water Monterey team.

Will the advanced purification process remove pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products?

Yes. Pure Water Monterey will utilize a robust and proven treatment process to remove pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other dissolved substances from the water. A comprehensive sampling and monitoring program will continually verify the effectiveness of the treatment processes which include primary/secondary wastewater treatment and advanced water purification. While all steps in the treatment process help to break down or destroy anything harmful in the water, advanced purification is specifically designed to prepare the water for drinking.

The 4-step advanced purification process includes: ozone, membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, and advanced oxidation. Ozone assists in the destruction of Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs) and pesticides and provides pathogen inactivation. Membrane filtration is used as a physical barrier for the removal of pathogens and large particulate matter. Reverse osmosis is used to remove dissolved constituents such as dissolved salts, pathogens, pesticides, organics, pharmaceutical compounds, and other CECs. The last treatment process is Advanced Oxidation (AO). AO reduces the concentration of specific trace organic compounds, recalcitrant compounds, and many CECs to approved safety levels. These redundant and proven processes will produce a water quality that meets or exceeds all State and Federal drinking water standards.

To learn more come check out our demonstration facility and see how the process works for yourself. While producing at a rate 230 times less than the full-scale facility, it’s a mini replica of what is under construction. Call 831-645-4623 to schedule a tour.

For more information on CEC’s click here: Pure Water Monterey – CEC Fact Sheet – 0518

How does a project like Pure Water Monterey get approved?

The safety of our community is a primary focus of the Pure Water Monterey Project. That’s why the first step was obtaining approval from health professionals and regulators. Using data collected from a sampling and pilot study, the California Department of Public Health (now restructured to the Division of Drinking Water at the State Water Resources Control Board) reviewed all project components and approved Pure Water Monterey as a safe, reliable water source for our community.

Who monitors Pure Water Monterey to ensure compliance with health standards? The Division of Drinking Water and the Regional Water Quality Control Board require continuous water quality testing for Pure Water Monterey to operate. The robust sampling and monitoring program verifies the water meets or exceeds all State and Federal drinking water standards. Water quality protocols are in place to ensure standards are always maintained.

You hear a lot about Pure Water Monterey’s pilot study. But what is a pilot study?

Before receiving the required permits for the project, PWM conducted an extensive study of its raw source waters and treatment processes. Tests analyzed more than 450 constituents, including dissolved substances like mercury and benzene. After 18,633 samples, the results showed raw source waters had some constituents above regulatory levels, as expected, but once the used waters went through the entire treatment process, the results showed removal and compliance with all Federal and State drinking water standards that ensure public and environmental health and safety.

What regulations are in place to permit water recycling?

The California Water Code governs the safe usage of water resources in the State of the California. See California Recycled Water Regulations.

Supporting the California Water Code are policies – like the Policy for Water Quality Control for Recycled Water (Recycled Water Policy). These policies are intended to encourage the safe use of recycled water, and can be limited in scope to focus on specific aspects or areas of reuse. While using a narrow focus, they do not exclude other types of water reuse which are regulated through other water quality programs with the State Board.