Pasadena gets nearly $1M for groundwater treatment

Pasadena is getting a new facility to more effectively decontaminate groundwater that will be built with nearly $1 million in federal funds, officials announced.

Mayor Victor M. Gordo and city officials joined U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, for a ceremonial check presentation Monday at the site of the future Sunset Complex Project Groundwater Treatment Facility located at West Mountain Street and Sunset Avenue.

The Sunset Complex will replace existing reservoirs with two circular concrete storage reservoirs that will meet current seismic standards, according to the Pasadena Water and Power Department. A new groundwater treatment plant will use ion exchange to remove perchlorate, “liquid phase granular activated carbon to remove volatile organic compounds” and have a disinfection system.

The new treatment system will enable PWP to utilize more of the city’s groundwater supply, and the project’s emergency power generators will keep the complex operating if a power outage occurs. 

PWP hosted the check presentation ceremony, which included remarks by Chu, Gordo and Acting PWP General Manager David Reyes.

“We’ve all experienced the climate crisis firsthand with back-to-back seasons of unprecedented winter storms, following years of historic drought, heatwaves, and wildfires across our region,” Chu said in a statement. “Thankfully, the City of Pasadena is rising to meet the challenge of managing, planning, and investing in our water systems to ensure long-term water security and climate resiliency. Through the Community Project Funding program in Congress, I secured $959,752 for the Sunset Complex Groundwater Treatment Facility to support Pasadena as it protects our groundwater basin and provides a lasting water supply for our communities.”

PWP identified the Sunset Complex Project in its Water System and Resources Plan, or WSRP, which is the city’s guidelines for long-term water resource planning for aging infrastructure, future water demand existing water resources and opportunities for new water supplies, officials said.

“Pasadena’s local water infrastructure is vital to residents, businesses, and visitors,” Gordo said in a statement. “We are proud to partner with Congresswoman Chu on important projects like this, which will help ensure a reliable, resilient water delivery system in Pasadena today and into the future.”

As part of WSRP, officials hope the project will help bring more reliability and resilience to the city’s water system. In addition to the planned groundwater treatment facility, the plan calls for groundwater well improvements and replacing two reservoirs, one of which Chu and other attendees toured following the check presentation.

More information about the Sunset Complex project is at PWPweb.com/SunsetComplex.

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