Wastewater treatment expansion in Coachella

The Coachella Sanitary District, which operates as a subsidiary of the city of Coachella. last week began construction of a wastewater treatment plant expansion that will ensure continued safe, reliable treatment services for residents of Coachella and surrounding unincorporated areas of Riverside

Plans for the $20.4 million expansion include a state-of-the-art oxidation ditch treatment system that will almost double the facility's Current capacity - increasing it from 2.4 million gallons per day of effluent (treated water) to 5.4 million gallons. A 3,400-square-foot administration building also is planned in a project scheduled for completion in October 2006. The plant is located near the east end of Avenue 54 in Coachella.

"The population of Coachella is growing rapidly, as is our commercial and industrial sector," said Coachella Mayor Jesse Villareal. "It is imperative that we build this additional capacity to handle the increasing water treatment needs."

Funding for the project was secured through a loan from the California State Water Resources Control Board.

"This is a first step in meeting the area's population growth," said Celeste Cantu, executive director of the water board. 'We hope that the City looks toward sustainable, low impact growth as the population increases so that water quality is protected."