PORT HUENEME : Water Treatment Plant Study OKd

Taking the first step toward construction of a high-tech water treatment plant, the Port Hueneme City Council has approved a $100,000 contract for an engineering study by a Ventura consulting firm.

In unanimously approving the contract with Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, the council expressed support for building a $12.1-million reverse osmosis plant that would provide 3.9 million gallons a day of high-quality water.

The unincorporated Channel Islands Beach Community Service District has expressed willingness to participate in the new regional water agency, but a decision by the U.S. Navy on whether to join the project is not expected until early next year.

“By February, we’ll know who’s playing and the dollar amounts will be better known,” said John Duffy, Port Hueneme’s director of public works, at Wednesday’s council meeting.

Duffy said the city would build the plant even if the other three parties back away from the project. “We can still proceed as a stand-alone project,” he said.

Interest in the project has been spurred by tough new water-quality guidelines expected to be implemented by the federal government. Channel Islands Beach and the Naval Construction Battalion Center currently draw water from coastal wells that are jeopardized by seawater intrusion.

Port Hueneme and the Naval Air Weapons Station at Point Mugu both receive water from wells operated by the United Water Conservation District, but water treated by the new facility, even after blending, would be three times cleaner than the water each now uses.

As initially proposed, Port Hueneme would construct the plant with $10 million in bond revenues raised earlier this year.