PCL Construction Builds a Sustainable Water Future By Amy Bentley, Contributor
PCL Construction’s Water Reuse Projects
Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility in San Francisco, California: PCL Construction is currently building the new Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility, which replaces aging infrastructure and meets the island’s future wastewater and recycled water needs. Originally constructed in 1961, the existing plant became outdated and under-sized. The new facility will have an annual average wastewater treatment capacity of 3.9 million gallons per day for Treasure Island and adjacent Yerba Buena. It will also have an annual average recycled water treatment capacity of 0.4 million gallons per day for Treasure Island. Completion is expected by the end of this year. The significance of this San Francisco Public Utilities Commission project extends beyond the immediate need for upgraded infrastructure. The island is projected to gain 20,000 residents by 2036 – eight times its current population, and this new facility will play a crucial role in meeting the wastewater treatment demands of this expanded community. Half of the treated wastewater produced by the facility will be recycled for irrigation, lawns, landscaping, and community parks. This state-of-the-art facility will replace the existing plant and include a range of advanced processes to ensure efficient and effective treatment. Aligned with the Envision ® Sustainable Infrastructure Framework, awarded to infrastructure projects that excel in sustainability, resilience, and equity, this project set ambitious
Ventura Water Reclamation Facility in Ventura, California: P CL Construction began construction in September 2025 on a transformative upgrade to the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility, marking a major step forward in sustainable water treatment for the city of Ventura. This project will replace aging secondary, tertiary, and disinfection systems with new Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) and Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technologies. These improvements will enhance nutrient removal and overall treatment performance, supporting cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, and long-term regulatory compliance. During preconstruction, the team identified an alternative site within the facility that offers better construction access and fewer conflicts with existing infrastructure. This strategic pivot enables the team to maintain the original timeline while delivering substantial cost savings to the city. This project offers a perfect example of the many benefits of pre-construction work. “We thoroughly evaluated the original site, but persistent construction challenges were driving up costs,” said Jon Merryman, PCL Project Manager. “Relocating the project within the facility allowed us to streamline construction, preserve the schedule, and deliver significant savings to the city.” The project is scheduled for completion in December 2030.
A s Southern California faces growing pressure from uncertain Colorado River and Northern California supplies, increasing water demand, and the urgent
background and oversees major civil infrastructure projects across the western United States, including complex water/wastewater and utility construction work
need to develop more reliable local water sources, companies like PCL Construction are playing a critical role in helping water agencies build the next generation of water infrastructure projects that will strengthen the region’s long-term water sustainability and resiliency. An award-winning company with large financial and staffing resources, PCL has decades of experience delivering complex, large infrastructure projects and extensive experience with progressive design-build. This delivery model allows for optimal collaborative development and is increasingly being used by public and private entities as the best way to complete a large complex project – on time and on budget. “PCL has been a large plant builder across the nation for over 40 years,” said Ankur Talwar, PCL’s Civil Division district manager, who has a chemical and professional engineer
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PCL is especially proud of its extensive work building massive water infrastructure projects and its strong relationships with many of Southern California’s large water agencies. “When government teams up with large, experienced builders like PCL for the public good, it’s government at its best,” Talwar said. Today, many water agencies and municipalities worldwide are prioritizing water reuse for a sustainable and reliable water future. In the era of persistent droughts and high water-use data centers, drought mitigation and water reuse are critical. For Southern California and the West, water reuse has become even more essential as future water allocations from the Colorado River will likely be reduced because it is already at a dangerously low level. The State Water Project (SWP) is
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