Date:  May 3, 2024

On April 16, staff from San Elijo Joint Powers Authority (SEJPA) noticed pooling water near the northern border of the San Elijo Lagoon, adjacent to Manchester Avenue. City of Escondido staff immediately responded, assessing the situation and taking water samples. Analysis of these samples ultimately identified the water to be treated secondary effluent from the Escondido Land Outfall.

The location of this slow leak is on the south side of Manchester Avenue, near the San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center. The water is contained in a small area of the Nature Center, south of the walking paths and approximately 25 feet from the roadway. Collaborative water sampling and analysis by both the City of Escondido and SEJPA has indicated that water from the weeping pipe has not influenced the San Elijo Lagoon, nor affected local wildlife.

On April 18, the City of Escondido declared a local emergency to expedite the resources needed to contain and repair the Land Outfall. The City of Escondido and SEJPA have been working collaboratively to contain and recover flow by diverting leakage to the San Elijo Water Campus, across the street, for further treatment and recycle/reuses. Current conditions of the leak range from no to low flow, depending on the flow rate at which the City of Escondido can safely operate its facilities.

The City of Escondido Land Outfall, completed in 1974, is a 14-mile pipeline that conveys secondary treated effluent westerly from the Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility (HARRF) to SEJPA’s Ocean Outfall. The City of Escondido and SEJPA’s combined flows are then discharged into the ocean via SEJPA’s Ocean Outfall, meeting longstanding state water quality parameters and standards. The Land Outfall is inspected regularly and has been found to be in good conditions. Additional assessment of the Land Outfall is anticipated during the emergency construction project.

In addition to the efforts mentioned above, SEJPA and the City of Escondido have closely coordinated with the County of San Diego, the San Elijo Nature Center, the San Elijo Nature Collective, the City of Encinitas, and other local and state agencies. Since the onset of the weeping Land Outfall, the affected area has been closed to the public, including portions of the San Elijo Nature Center lagoon walking trails. Initially, the San Elijo Nature Center “Outer Loop” trail was closed in order to facilitate necessary emergency-related work. This trail has since been reopened, and as of May 2, 2024, all trails remain open, and efforts are underway to provide clearly marked signage to the public.

At a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the City of Escondido received approval by the Escondido City Council for the requested budget adjustment for the emergency repair project. The extent of construction and duration will be better understood after the Land Outfall pipeline is exposed and inspected, which is anticipated to occur early next week.

Both SEJPA and the City of Escondido are invested in reducing the amount of effluent sent to the ocean through progressive water recycling programs. You can read more about both agency’s efforts to reuse at the SEJPA Recycled Program and City of Escondido Water Reclamation and Reuse Program and Membrane Filtration and Reverse Osmosis Facility.

Attached is a link to a website with updated information on the repair project. Please direct all questions to neal@risingtidepartners.co and 858-215-1637.

About the City of Escondido Incorporated in 1888, Escondido is a safe, clean and efficiently managed city of over 150,000 residents. Escondido is home to a growing number of businesses and a wide range of cultural, educational, healthcare, tourism and recreation amenities, making the City the ideal destination in which to live, work and play. Learn more at Escondido.org.

About San Elijo Joint Powers Authority The San Elijo Joint Powers Authority is a local leader in environmental stewardship, providing award winning wastewater treatment and recycled water services for the communities of Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe.

Date: January 11, 2024

The card and box of chocolates that recently came to Recycled Water Supervisor Mike Piper were not from his wife, any of his five daughters, or five grandchildren. Instead, they were a sincere gesture from a young utility worker he had mentored.

The worker expressed gratitude for Piper's guidance and dedication, noting that Piper went above and beyond, even on days off, to help him meet professional standards. Piper is pleased to share the knowledge he has gathered during a 21-year career at San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, which produces recycled water for the water districts that serve Encinitas, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, and Del Mar.

Over the years, Piper has earned multiple certifications and secured a seat on the Board of Directors for the local chapter of the American Backflow Prevention Association. In this role he helps ensure recycled water and potable water systems never intermingle. He also performs training and screenings and develops recommendations to regulatory agencies.

As a testing proctor, Piper ensures certification candidates can demonstrate the skills outlined in the USC Manual of Cross-Connection Control, a vital resource in the field. He is committed to sharing extensive knowledge gained from serving in recycled water organizations and through first-hand experience at San Elijo JPA.

“I don't like to hold back my knowledge,” he said. “I make sure they know what I know."

Recycled water has come a long way during Piper’s tenure. Used for irrigation and industrial purposes, recycled water is drought-proof and provides an important alternative to potable water.

“Mike has been instrumental in helping us connect new customers to recycled water,” said General Manager Mike Thornton. “He is very knowledgeable, dependable and great at explaining that recycled water is safe and sustainable.”

Even during off hours, Piper remains on call 24/7 to mark recycled water and wastewater lines in response to dig alerts. His journey through the water industry started more than two decades ago, drawing on his experience as a maintenance tech for Culligan Water, he joined a treatment plant operator at the San Elijo Water Campus.

Looking ahead, San Elijo JPA is expanding its 20-mile network of purple pipe for recycled water, and in 2024, will begin refurbishment of the 3-million-gallon Wanket Reservoir in Encinitas for recycled water storage. And Piper will be assisting new customers with their connection process, emphasizing safety, quality, and excellent customer service.

Beyond his professional life, Piper engages in volunteer work, particularly with the Miracle League of San Diego. Despite his busy schedule, he emphasizes the importance of family life, stating, "Being a father is the best thing I can do."

Date: November 15, 2023

In collaboration with San Diego State University, a San Elijo Joint Powers Authority executive led future engineers on a tour Oct. 20 of the Moonlight Beach Pump Station in Encinitas.

Tom Falk, San Elijo JPA’s Director of Infrastructure & Sustainability, provided eight students with an up-close look at pumps that can move up to 2,000 gallons per minute. 

Over the din of electric motors, the seniors from university’s Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering peppered Mr. Falk with questions, tapped notes into cell phones and photographed the industrial equipment.

SDSU’s Capstone Senior Design Course is a key part of the engineering curriculum, challenging graduating students to apply academic knowledge to real-world situations.

San Elijo JPA sponsored two project teams to design upgrades to the pump station and a new pipeline from the station to the San Elijo Water Campus on Manchester Avenue, where wastewater would be recycled to reduce the community’s reliance on imported water.

In December, the student projects are set to be presented during Senior Design Day.

Date: October 15, 2023

In September San Elijo JPA was nominated to receive an Orchid for Public Architecture for its Water Campus Improvement Project, in Encinitas CA.

Voting has concluded and winners were announced on October 5, 2023. We had a great turn out in votes and comments and would like to thank everyone who participated in supporting San Elijo JPA!

The San Elijo JPA welcomes school and community groups to schedule tours of the San Elijo Water Campus. We are proud to serve the community and protect the environment. During tours of the Water Campus, visitors can see the treatment and recycling processes in action. A laboratory, customized computer software, powerful
pumps and filtration systems support our operations. Come and see how all of it works!

Date: August 3, 2023

It’s easy to get Todd Hutchinson talking about wastewater treatment and how it has improved since the late '90s.

As the most senior Lead Operator for the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, Hutchinson has seen it all and proudly celebrates 25 years of service to the agency that serves Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and portions of Rancho Santa Fe. The Board of Directors of San Elijo JPA is recognizing this milestone achievement at its next meeting on August 15th.

"In a plant like this, the operator needs to know everything," says Hutchinson, who thoroughly understands that knowledge of water treatment, operating industrial equipment, and working around high voltage and potentially dangerous chemicals, are all part of the job.

“Part of our success at San Elijo is having a dedicated and diverse team that adds to the collaboration of ideas and level of coordination it takes to run our facility. As a well-rounded individual, Todd embodies this core value,” states General Manager Michael Thornton. Starting his career with service in the Air Force, Hutchinson went on to earn a computer programming certificate from Coleman University.

In 1998, Todd decided on a career change and started at San Elijo JPA as an entry level Wastewater Treatment Operator. His daily tasks involved taking manual readings from analog meters and meticulously calculating daily flows using paper, pen, and calculator. Mechanical chart recorders diligently logged the systems' performance on rolls of paper, a time-honored process in those days.

Fast-forward to the present, and a remarkable transformation has taken place in the industry and Hutchinson’s day-to-day workflow. From a single workstation, he can monitor the operations of the treatment plant while simultaneously consuming real time information from a dozen remote facilities that are integrated components of the wastewater collection, treatment, and recycling systems. Positioned at a standing desk, facing a supersized monitor, Hutchinson now commences his workday at the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, working alongside his team and this cutting-edge technology to produce over 500 million gallons of recycled water annually.

Having embraced the advancements of science and technology over the course of his career at San Elijo JPA, Hutchinson has experienced decades of change and now works seamlessly with a completely digitalized, modern system.

Hutchinson’s versatility has been exemplified by his commitment to a path of learning and adapting throughout his career, remaining steadfast on his journey with the organization and ensuring his long- term contribution to the success of San Elijo JPA. “His 25-year dedication to the field is truly commendable and has played an integral role in advancing wastewater treatment for the betterment of our community” said Michael Thornton.

"It's a great place to work," Hutchinson warmly expresses. Beyond being a place of professional growth and shared purpose, San Elijo JPA has become a community where he has “made a lot of lifelong friends.” The team at San Elijo JPA is immensely grateful to have him as part of their workforce, valuing not only his expertise but also the camaraderie and lasting impact he brings to the organization.

Date:  July 5, 2022

The San Elijo Water Campus on Manchester Avenue in Cardiff-by-the-Sea provides public parking, electric vehicle charging, and a 12-foot-wide, paved path for pedestrians and bikes to improve mobility in north coastal San Diego County. 

These improvements complement the $120 million North Coast Corridor program, a Caltrans and SANDAG initiative that includes bikeways, widening of Interstate 5 and a restoration of San Elijo Lagoon, among other improvements.

Bike and pedestrian paths connect Solana Beach and Encinitas and improve access to the San Elijo Lagoon and Nature Reserve. One of the paths runs from Solana Hills Drive in Solana Beach to Birmingham Drive in Encinitas and crosses San Elijo Lagoon by way of a suspension bridge beneath the freeway. Other paths connect to a network of new and existing trails within the lagoon reserve.

One route, on Manchester Avenue, runs between Interstate 5 and the Water Campus, where 31 parking places, six electric vehicle charging stations, drinking fountains, and a small park are open to the public. At the Water Campus, the Manchester Avenue bicycle path continues northward to Birmingham Drive, leading toward the Encinitas Community Park.

Public amenities at the Water Campus were built during a $20.6 million campus improvement program in 2021.

Date: March 14, 2022

Visitors to San Elijo Lagoon can charge their electric vehicles while hiking at the nature reserve. Six new charging stations have opened to the public at the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority Water Campus on Manchester Avenue. Electric vehicle charging went live this month and is one of many new upgrades at the Water Campus.

ChargePoint, Inc., a third-party vendor, maintains the vehicle charging system and handles users’ billing and network connections. At the charging stations, fees are designed to recover the costs of electricity and running the system. A parking fee begins after the third hour of charging.

Date: October 19, 2021

On Tuesday October 19, 2021 SEJPA’s Board of Directors, along with General Manager Michael Thornton, cut the ribbon on $20.6 million in community-focused upgrades to the Water Campus on Manchester Avenue, known formally as the Water Campus Improvement Project. Elected leaders from Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and the State of California joined about three-dozen community members to celebrate completion of the two-year construction program. One of its crowning features is a modern, two-story administrative building and learning center.

“It’s an important project that modernizes aging facilities and adds renewable energy while improving public access and increasing walking and biking paths in our coastal cities,” said Chairwoman Kristi Becker.

The campus improvements provide numerous public amenities, including parking for the nearby San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center; pedestrian safety improvements on Manchester Avenue; electric vehicle charging; a small park on Manchester Avenue, and a multi-use bike and pedestrian path built in partnership with Caltrans. The multi-use path connects Manchester Avenue to Birmingham Drive and is set to open in the May 2022.

The project includes a new operation and administration building, facilities for stormwater capture, the permanent preservation of sensitive open space, and the installation of a $2 million solar system to meet up to 25% of the facility’s electrical demand.

The original wastewater facilities on Manchester Avenue opened in the mid-1960s. Over the years, the award-winning facility has evolved into a water campus that treats and recycles wastewater, hosts water research in collaboration with local universities, and provides educational opportunities to schools and colleges. The ribbon cutting event highlighted the partnerships with Caltrans, which contributed $5.4 million for the multi-use path and improvements on Manchester Avenue, and the California Department of Water Resources, which funded $300,000 for stormwater capture and reuse.  In addition, great support also came from the cities of Encinitas and Solana Beach, the County of San Diego and the Nature Collective.

“We always appreciate the outstanding collaboration we get from our neighbors and partners,” said SEJPA General Manager Michael Thornton.