The City of San Clemente was operating several groundwater production wells that have been used periodically over the years to help offset reliance on imported water. Groundwater production included Well 6 (400 GPM) and Well 8 (800 GPM). Before being introduced into the City’s water distribution system through Reservoir 1, the local groundwater required treatment to remove elevated levels of iron and manganese, as well as occasional treatment for hydrogen sulfide (odor control) at the City’s well water treatment plant.

AKM prepared preliminary design plans, project cost estimates, and final design documents for converting the treatment plant from gaseous to liquid chemicals, specifically sodium hypochlorite and sodium bisulfite. This conversion eliminated the need for a chemical scrubber and its emergency backup generator, reduced the effort required for updates to the California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) Program, and eliminated the need for compliance with the federal US EPA Risk Management Program (RMP). The annual cost savings resulting from reduced CalARP requirements, elimination of the RMP process, and the removal of South Coast AQMD permit requirements were projected to more than offset the additional chemical costs.

The project also included the construction of a new 18′ wide by 49′ 4″ long chemical storage building equipped with interconnecting piping, chemical storage, pumping systems, and injectors for oxidants (applied ahead of the reaction vessels) and disinfectants (applied after filtration). As part of the preliminary design process, AKM reviewed and presented alternative locations, sizes, and layouts for the chemical building, which were approved by the City.