$388 Million Low-Interest Loan Awarded by U.S. EPA Loan saves ratepayers $130 million and creates 2,500 jobs

The East County Advanced Water Purification Program received a $388 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help finance the Program. The low-interest loan will save ratepayers $130 million and help create more than 2,500 jobs. Scheduled to be complete in 2025, the East County AWP Program will create a new, local, sustainable and drought-proof drinking water supply using state-of-the-art technology to purify East San Diego County’s recycled water. The Program will generate up to 11.5 million gallons per day of new drinking water—approximately 30% of current drinking water demands for East San Diego County residents.

“The WIFIA loan marks a historic funding milestone to help provide East County with local control and independence of both its wastewater and water,” said Allen Carlisle, CEO/general manager of Padre Dam Municipal Water District. “The Program secures a long-term solution for increased stability in our communities and safeguards the vitality of our economy and quality of life.”

“EPA is proud to partner on this project, which uses proven technology to bolster drinking water supplies in this climate-stressed region,” said EPA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “Investing in water infrastructure is one of the best bets we can make to improve public health and the environment, create jobs and address pressing challenges that face our communities.” This will be the first EPA WIFIA loan awarded to the Program, the largest to a project in East San Diego County and the second-largest in all of San Diego County. The WIFIA program accelerates investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects.

From left to right: Kathleen Hedberg (Helix Water District), Doug Wilson (Padre Dam MWD), Steve Goble (East County AWP JPA & City of El Cajon), Radhika Fox (U.S. EPA), James Peasley, Bill Pommering, Augie Caires and Allen Carlisle (Padre Dam MWD) and Jack Shu (City of La Mesa). To view the entire announcement, including remarks by U.S. EPA's Radhika Fox, click here.

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Take a Virtual Tour! The next virtual tour will be on June 15 at 1 p.m. Click here to reserve your spot! The one-hour tour provides details about why the Program is important to East San Diego County, the water purification process and much more. There's also an opportunity to get your questions answered.

The East County Advanced Water Purification Program will create a new, local, sustainable and drought-proof drinking water supply. The Program will use state-of- the-art technology to purify East San Diego County’s recycled water to produce up to 30 percent of East County’s drinking water supply.

East County Advanced Water Purification Mailing Address: c/o Padre Dam Municipal Water District P.O. Box 719003 Santee, CA 92072 (619) 258 4644

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