El Paso Water (EPWater), alongside local, state, and federal leaders, broke ground on February 27 on the Pure Water Center, formerly known as the Advanced Water Purification Facility. During the ceremony, the new name was unveiled, reflecting its mission to provide sustainable, high-quality drinking water to the El Paso community.
EPWater has worked closely with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for over a decade to ensure that the facility meets all state and federal drinking water standards. In late 2024, TCEQ granted final design approval, paving the way for construction.
“After years of planning, design, and thousands of water-quality tests, we are excited to begin construction on the Pure Water Center,” said EPWater President and CEO John Balliew. “This is the next step in El Paso’s long history of water reuse, and we hope it will serve as a model for other communities facing water challenges.”
The Pure Water Center will receive treated water from the Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant, which currently supplies irrigation and discharges to the Rio Grande. This water will undergo a multi-step purification process exceeding drinking water standards before being distributed to customers. The advanced treatment will include membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet light with advanced oxidation, granular activated carbon filtration, and chlorine disinfection.
Designed by Carollo Engineers and soon to be constructed by the PCL/Sundt Joint Venture, the Pure Water Center will deliver an additional 10 million gallons of drinking water per day to El Paso residents.
“The groundbreaking of EPWater’s Pure Water Center represents a historic milestone for water reuse innovation,” said Sanaan Villalobos, Vice President and Project Manager at Carollo. “As the nation’s first direct-to-distribution potable reuse facility, this project highlights EPWater’s visionary leadership and commitment to water sustainability.”
“We are honored that EPWater has entrusted the PCL/Sundt team with this transformative project,” said Ankur Talwar, District Manager for PCL’s Civil Infrastructure Division. “Our hope is that the Pure Water Center will set a new standard for water resiliency nationwide.”
“At Sundt, we take pride in our long-standing expertise in building critical water infrastructure that strengthens communities,” added Sam Reidy, President of Sundt’s Water and Wastewater Group. “Through our partnership with EPWater and PCL Construction, we are ensuring a resilient water future for the region.”
Investing in Community Engagement and Education
EPWater is dedicated to keeping customers informed about El Paso’s water resources. The Pure Water Center will feature a state-of-the-art visitor center, offering educational opportunities on water sources, supply management, environmental stewardship, and advanced water treatment processes.
Funding and Project Timeline
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded $3.5 million in 2019 for the facility’s design and committed an additional $20 million in 2022 to support construction. The total project cost is estimated at $295 million, with EPWater actively pursuing additional state and federal funding. Construction is expected to be completed in 2028.