CHINO, CA — The Chino Basin Program (CBP), a program led by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) and partners, has reached a significant milestone as environmental engineering firm Brown and Caldwell completes the preliminary design of a new 13.4 million gallons per day Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF), a vital component of the water program.

The preliminary design, developed in partnership with Water Systems Consulting, Inc., provides the technical feasibility, planning-level design, and preliminary costs for the AWPF that can produce 15,000 acre-feet per year of purified water (water for approximately 100,000 people) for groundwater replenishment that meets Chino Basin water quality objectives and integrates the flexibility to meet potential future regulations.

When integrated into IEUA’s Regional Water Recycling Plant No. 4 in Rancho Cucamonga, the new AWPF will treat recycled water from three sources, conveying purified water to a new aquifer replenishment wellfield for indirect potable reuse. The purification process will be comprised of equalization, microfiltration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet/advanced oxidation process disinfection, and product water conditioning. In coordination with stakeholders, the stored water will be extracted over the program’s 25-year duration.

This milestone aids in the development of the CBP, a first-of-its kind program that will deliver water security, flexibility, and affordability benefits to both northern and southern California. The CBP is comprised of several water treatment, storage, and delivery projects designed to help increase local supply reliability. Once implemented, the projects will address the immediate needs of the region while unlocking the potential for additional storage and water recycling projects in the future.

Brown and Caldwell Project Management Director Andrew Lazenby commented on the new facility’s role within the CBP and integration with IEUA’s recycled water program expansion.

“We congratulate IEUA and program partners on this significant milestone vital to the program’s success," he said. "The AWPF is central to CBP operations and considered key infrastructure for IEUA to diversify its water portfolio while maintaining compliance with local groundwater replenishment and augmentation requirements.”

The CBP’s network of new infrastructure and upgrades will begin construction in 2026, with operations anticipated to be phased in by 2030.