WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — A joint venture of Filanc and Brown and Caldwell today announced its selection as design-builder for the City of Escondido’s Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility) Project.
The MFRO Facility is considered a sustainable and cost-effective measure in alleviating the burden on Escondido’s stressed wastewater infrastructure while providing local agriculture growers with a new, high-quality irrigation supply.
Recycled water from the Escondido Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility that is currently being discarded into an outfall pipe nearing capacity will be routed to the MFRO Facility, which will treat and produce two million gallons per day.
A new recycled water conveyance and distribution system will then pipe the treated water to outlying parts of the city for irrigation of agriculture, mainly avocado orchards. Provisions to enable future expansion to treat water for indirect potable reuse will be incorporated into the design of the MFRO Facility.
“The City looks forward to collaborating with the Filanc/Brown and Caldwell design-build team to deliver this important project as we continue to seek innovative ways to recycle water, relieve the burden on aging outfall infrastructure, and support our local agricultural community with a reliable, drought-proof supply.”
City of Escondido Deputy Director of Utilities Angela Morrow
The design-build joint venture of Filanc and Brown and Caldwell will follow the progressive design-build delivery method to provide services for design, permitting, construction, commissioning, and startup for the project. Extended commissioning/operations and maintenance for a one-year duration upon construction completion is also included. As significant subcontractors, H2O Innovation and Big Sky Electric bring operations services and electrical construction expertise respectively.
“Our design-build team is honored to be selected for this unique solution to augment agricultural water supply while reducing demand on vital infrastructure,” said Filanc Design-Build Project Manager Gary Silverman. “From our local and California-wide perspectives, we understand firsthand how water scarcity impacts our community, and we are ready to support the city in maximizing the use of our water resources.”
Design, construction, startup, and commissioning of the MFRO Facility is scheduled for substantial completion by December 2021.