History

Historically, wastewater generated in Solana Beach and Cardiff was collected in private septic tanks or privately discharged into the surf. In 1950, Solana Beach and Cardiff collection systems were constructed, but due to the mounting water quality concerns in the San Elijo Lagoon, the San Elijo Water Pollution Control Facility (now the San Elijo Water Reclamation Facility) was constructed in 1965.

The original San Elijo Water Pollution Control Facility was placed in service in 1966 with a capacity of 2 million gallons per day (MGD) and was operated by the County of San Diego. As flows increased and the Clean Water Act loomed, the plant converted to advanced primary treatment in 1981, increasing capacity to 2.87 MGD. In 1986, the Cities of Solana Beach and Encinitas were incorporated and ownership of the facility was transferred from the County to the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority.

Major facility improvements were completed in 1992, which included secondary treatment facilities and other upgrades that increased the treatement capacity to 5.25 MGD. In 2000, the agency completed construction of the 2.48 MGD tertiary treatment system and installed roughly 17 miles of distribution system with two reservoirs and one booster pump station.