Based on the recommendations of a feasibility study, the Las Virgenes-Triunfo Joint Powers Authority (JPA), a partnership between Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD) and Triunfo Water & Sanitation District (TWSD), decided to pursue an indirect potable reuse project to create a new, reliable water supply and address water quality in the Malibu Creek Watershed.
The Pure Water project creates an opportunity for the JPA to treat up to 7.5 million gallons per day (MGD) of tertiary recycled water, to advanced treatment levels through the proposed advanced water purification facility (AWPF), which will provide a minimum of 2,100 acre-feet per year of drinking water supply for the Las Virgenes Reservoir, reduce imported water demand for the service area, and eliminate the need to discharge unused tertiary recycled water to Malibu Creek.
Working in tandem with the JPA and lead consultant Jacobs, Woodard & Curran’s recycled water experts have been integral to the $466 million project’s planning, design, and regulatory compliance. The project team developed a methodology to evaluate more than 40,000 public parcels of land in Los Angeles and Ventura counties during the preliminary siting study. This process helped narrow down the site candidates to 26 options, which were reviewed for technical, environmental, and community criteria, as well as CEQA compliance. The list of 26 options was then narrowed down to two. As part of the study, the team also developed a detailed layout for the proposed advanced water purification facility (AWPF), which spans two acres, including process buildings, tanks, parking, and access roads. The project site on Agoura Road was chosen based on optimal location that balanced community considerations and costs.
As part of the program management team for the design-build project, our experts identified and evaluated pipeline alignments for the conveyance system that will deliver source water to the AWPF, convey purified water to the Las Virgenes Reservoir, and dispose of the reverse osmosis concentrate byproduct. By conducting hydraulic analyses, utility surveys, and assessments of existing pump stations and distribution infrastructure, Woodard & Curran optimized critical pipeline routes, determining necessary upgrades and new lines, for reliability and cost-effectiveness. The team also conducted a regional brine management study to explore alternatives for handling approximately 1 MGD of byproduct, positioning the JPA to implement a regionally beneficial concentrate disposal method.
As the regulatory lead on the Pure Water project, Woodard & Curran is supporting the development of permit applications for approval from the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water (DDW) and the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). Recognizing the complexity of the project in a relatively new regulatory landscape, our team hosts regular meetings with DDW and RWQCB staff to collaboratively address technical questions and build consensus on compliance approaches. The team also spearheaded the Wastewater Change Petition to legally allow the diversion of treated effluent from Malibu Creek into the reservoir. Our approach engaging regulatory bodies throughout the process is paving the way for JPA to obtain all necessary approvals while also meeting strict compliance requirements.
In December 2025, the JPA approved a contract that includes $303.7 million for final design and construction of the AWPF and pipeline components and $12.7 million in allowances for project contingencies. This paves the way for construction to begin in 2026 on this landmark effort that harnesses state-of-the-art water reuse technology. Once complete, the project, which is JPA’s largest infrastructure investment to date, is expected to provide up to 30 percent of the region’s drinking water needs, reducing the dependance on imported water and improving water quality in the Malibu Creek Watershed.