The City of Oceanside welcomed Minister for the Environment of Denmark Lea Wermelin and her accompanying water technology experts on Nov. 30 to witness and celebrate the signing of the California-Denmark agreement for water sector collaboration on Water Technology Day 2021. The memorandum of understanding is between the Danish Water Technology Alliance and the San Diego Regional Water Tech Alliance.
The event was held at the City of Oceanside’s San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility in the Pure Water Oceanside center to highlight the project and educate the delegation. Pure Water Oceanside will be the first water reuse project to go online in San Diego County. Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez and Water Utilities Director Cari Dale received the minister and her delegation to provide a tour of the project and discussed a shared alliance to local, national and international water security.
Speaking to a room of local and international water leaders, Oceanside Water Utilities Director Cari Dale said, “We put Pure Water Oceanside on the map in California when we broke ground in 2020. Today, we put it on the map internationally. Creation of this exceptionally pure drinking water will provide multiple benefits to the City of Oceanside, our residents and businesses, and we’re pleased to collaborate with Denmark on a shared vision for a climate-resilient water sector.”
Pure Water Oceanside uses ultra filtration, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation to purify recycled water. When complete, the project will create 32% of Oceanside’s water supply, equating to three to five million gallons per day. The project is inspired by the natural water cycle and is the natural next step for recycling and utilizing the precious resource that is currently recycled and then discharged into the ocean.
“The science Pure Water Oceanside uses is proven,” said Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez. “It’s already in use around the globe—including in locations as close as Orange County at the Groundwater Replenishment System. The project will diversify the city’s water supply, safeguard against drought, and provide an environmentally friendly water source alternative.”
The Danish Water Technology Alliance (WTA-DK) builds bridges between the North American and Danish water sector, with the aim of sharing information and fostering collaboration. Through visits like the one to Pure Water Oceanside, the WTA-DK provides specialized knowledge about Danish solutions covering water distribution, water resource management, water treatment, sewer systems and smart water systems. The WTA-DK hosts workshops and seminars in North America and invites North American stakeholders on dedicated fact-finding trips to Denmark to see and experience solutions in operation and meet colleagues abroad.
