7 decades in the making, new Fallbrook water treatment plant opens

FALLBROOK – Culminating one of the longest-running federal lawsuits in San Diego County history, on Nov. 9, the Fallbrook Public Utility District christened its new $60 million water treatment plant, which will purify millions of gallons of water from the Santa Margarita River every year and deliver it to the residents of Fallbrook.

“Finally, the people of Fallbrook will be able to benefit from this abundant nearby water supply, which will provide our district with half of its water needs and reduce our reliance on expensive imported water,” said Jack Bebee, general manager of FPUD.

“This took a lot of hard work by so many people from both our district and Camp Pendleton, and I’m very grateful that we were able to come together to make this happen,” said Jennifer DeMeo, FPUD board president.

“Having local, more affordable water is critical,” said Brigadier General Jason Woodworth, commanding general for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. “Both Fallbrook and Camp Pendleton rely heavily on the water that Santa Margarita River provides. Luckily, through these 68 years we were able to work together and come up with the best possible solution to effectively manage this vital shared natural resource. Through the CUP agreement we will continue to work together for many years ahead with that same goal in mind.”

The new treatment plant is part of the Santa Margarita River Conjunctive Use Project, a joint effort of FPUD and Camp Pendleton. Through the project, water from the Santa Margarita River will be diverted into underground ponds and then pumped to treatment facilities on Camp Pendleton and in Fallbrook where it will be treated and used on base and in Fallbrook.

In 1951, the United States government, on behalf of Camp Pendleton, filed suit against Fallbrook over water rights to the Santa Margarita River, which flows 40 miles from southwestern Riverside County into the Pacific Ocean. The courts originally sided with Camp Pendleton; however, a modified agreement directed Camp Pendleton and Fallbrook to work together on a solution.

In the 1960s, Camp Pendleton and Fallbrook proposed the Two Dam Project, which involved damming the river in two locations. To store the water, Fallbrook acquired nearly 1,384 acres on which to build a reservoir. However, due to a number of environmental issues, the project never materialized.

Years later, Camp Pendleton and Fallbrook conceived the Santa Margarita Conjunctive Use Project to capture river water underground, pipe it to new treatment facilities and deliver it for use on the base and for Fallbrook customers. In 2019, after decades of litigation, settlement talks and other delays, a federal judge approved the project, which resolved the 1951 lawsuit.

As for those 1,384 acres, they have become a popular recreational area over the years for hiking and horseback-riding, and through a recent agreement between Fallbrook and the Wildlands Conservancy, the property will be permanently preserved as open space and available for continued recreational use.

By using water from the Santa Margarita River and cutting back on imported water purchases, the district will have a local source of water that is not subject to other agencies’ cost increases.

Funding for the project comes from a low-interest, state revolving loan at 1.8% for 20 years. Construction of the project was awarded to JR Filanc Construction Co., which was able to finish the project on schedule – something of a marvel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fallbrook plant is the final component of the project. Camp Pendleton has completed its part, which cost $47 million.

The dedication event held Nov. 9 was attended by more than 130 people; it included lunch from Rosa’s Mexican Café. The lunch, giveaway bags and the set-up (tent, tables, chairs, decorations, etc.) was all paid for by the project builders Filanc and Alberici, and design engineer IEC.

Submitted by Fallbrook Public Utility District.