Creating a local drought-proof drinking water supply for an inland California community

Pure Water Antelope Valley - Program Implementation and Support

Inland California communities such as Palmdale continue to face pressure to develop reliable and drought resilient water supplies due to limited local resources. The Palmdale Water District (PWD) engaged our team to study the feasibility of reusing up to 4.75 million gallons a day, or MGD (17.98 megalitres a day, or MLD) of tertiary treated wastewater as a new drinking water source through indirect potable reuse by groundwater augmentation in the Antelope Valley aquifer.

Since 2021, we’ve partnered with PWD on the advancement of the Pure Water Antelope Valley Program (Pure Water AV). Following completion of the feasibility study, we prepared a program implementation plan supported by groundwater modeling, delivery method evaluations, and brine management planning. We also assisted PWD in developing a funding strategy for the program. To date, PWD has secured more than $17 million in grant funding and is pursuing additional financial assistance, including low interest Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act WIFIA) loans.

In 2024, our team completed the design of the advanced water purification demonstration facility, which is now under construction with completion expected during summer 2026. The facility will support public education, operator training, and optimization of the future full-scale advanced water purification facility design as well as to obtain regulatory approval. The project also includes an evaluation of technologies that may reduce brine management requirements including potential collaboration with a carbon capture technology company. The evaluation will help determine whether the use of brine waste streams to support carbon removal is technically and economically feasible. If proven viable, this approach could reduce the need for large brine evaporation ponds and lower the program’s overall environmental footprint.

Once fully implemented, Pure Water AV will provide a local drought resilient water supply. The program will help replenish the region’s groundwater basin and strengthen long-term water reliability for the Palmdale community. Future program phases may increase the total supply to as much as 10 MGD (38 MLD) based on future planning needs and regulatory approvals.