Projects

Chino I Expansion & Chino II Desalter Project

CDA implemented the Chino I Desalter Expansion and Chino II Desalter project to expand the Chino I Desalter and construct the new Chino II Desalter. At Chino I, located at the western side of CDA’s service area, the 9-million-gallons-per-day (MGD) reverse-osmosis treatment plant was expanded to produce up to 14-MGD by adding ion exchange treatment for nitrate removal and air stripping treatment for removal of TCE. Other plant improvements included upgrading the existing disinfection system, expansion of the on-site product water pump station, and drilling of three new wells to increase the system’s raw water supply. Delivery facilities were added to enhance movement of treated water to the end-users, including two new booster pump stations and approximately 14,000 linear feet of product water pipeline. The new Chino II Desalter was constructed on the eastern side of CDA’s service area to produce 10-MGD of drinking water utilizing reverse osmosis and ion exchange. The project also included eight new groundwater wells, 24,000 linear feet of pipeline, and a new booster pump station. Together, the new and expanded desalters strengthened the water supply reliability in the Inland Empire by increasing CDA’s total potable water production from 9,200 acre-feet per year (AFY) to 24,600 AFY. The project was partially funded by a $48 million grant from California Proposition 13.

Chino II Desalter Expansion and Concentrate Reduction Facility Project

The Chino II Desalter Expansion and Concentrate Reduction Facility Project involves improvements expanding the capacity of the Chino I and Chino II Desalter systems to a total production of 35,200 acre-feet requiring 40,000 acre-feet per year of groundwater  while achieving the goal of hydraulic control of the Chino Groundwater Basin. Project components include treatment system improvements at both desalters, construction of a new concentrate reduction facility at Chino II using a pellet softening process and secondary reverse osmosis to increase the overall recovery rate of the desalter to 92%, eight new wells, raw water pipelines, product water pipelines, new product water pump stations and ancillary facilities. Project funding included over $80 million in grants from California Propositions 50 and 84, the United States Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI, and other state and local grant programs.

 South Archibald Plume Cleanup Project

The South Archibald Plume Project, completed and operational in 2021, was implemented in cooperation with Inland Empire Utilities Agency and the Cities of Ontario and Upland with the goal of removing the volatile organic compound (VOC) trichloroethylene (TCE) from groundwater wells impacted by the South Archibald Plume. The project integrated additional improvements into the Chino II system, including a new 2,000-gpm well to allow extraction of groundwater from the plume, construction of dedicated transmission pipeline to convey impacted groundwater to the Desalter, and treating the high TCE ground water using CDA’s existing reverse osmosis (RO) system, and a new air stripper system. Construction of the project was almost entirely funded by grants from California Proposition 1 and the United States Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI (amount of grant). Additional funding from California Proposition 68 contributes to cover costs for operations and maintenance.

Chino I GAC Treatment Facilities Project

The Chino I GAC Treatment Facilities Project, completed and operational in 2023, includes two GAC treatment facilities (1.7 mgd and 3.4 mgd) at the Chino I Desalter for the removal of TCE and 1,2,3-TCP within the groundwater under the influence of the Chino Airport Plume. The goal of this project, implemented in cooperation with the San Bernardino County Department of Airports, is to provide treatment for CDA Wells I-1 through I-4, and CDA wells I-16 through 18. In the future, the facility will also treat groundwater from new wells that will be installed by the County as part of a Cleanup and Abatement Order issued by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board. Project financing included $750,000 in grant funding from United States Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI.