Jacobs has secured a 10-year contract with the Soquel Creek Water District (SqCWD) to operate and maintain a new advanced water purification facility in Santa Cruz County, California. The facility is a key part of the Pure Water Soquel program, aimed at groundwater replenishment and preventing seawater intrusion.
The facility will treat municipal wastewater using a process in three steps: ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light with hydrogen peroxide. This process will produce water to replenish the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin, the area's sole drinking water source. Additionally, it aims to reduce ocean discharge by up to 25%, improving environmental sustainability.
“As climate change threatens water security, more communities are turning to water reuse,” said Greg Fischer, Vice President of Design-Build and Operations Management and Facilities Services at Jacobs. “Together, we're collaboratively addressing seawater intrusion and groundwater contamination challenges while maintaining an innovative and resilient solution for the community's water resources.”
Jacobs has been involved with the project since 2020 as the operations and maintenance at-risk consultant, and will use its Digital OneWater suite to enhance plant performance and reduce operational risks. A digital twin of the facility, developed by Jacobs, allows the simulation of various scenarios to optimize energy and chemical use.
SqCWD General Manager Melanie Mow Schumacher highlighted the importance of the facility. “Pure Water Soquel is a critical part of addressing our local and regional water supply challenges, and it's important to have a dependable partnership,” she said.
This project is part of Jacobs’ broader involvement in California infrastructure, including the Pure Water Project for Las Virgenes-Triunfo and the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES). The partnership with SqCWD aims to deliver a sustainable water solution for a region facing increasing challenges from climate change.