Background

Water and sewer service coverage in Tecate is estimated at 99.5% and 96%, respectively. The main source of drinking water is the Colorado River Aqueduct. CESPTE operates two water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 6.9 million gallons a day (mgd). The
municipality’s average daily water consumption is 5.7 mgd.

The wastewater collected is conveyed to the Tecate Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), which has a design capacity of 4.6 million gallons a day (mgd). Current flows to the WWTP average 3.2 mgd.

Approximately two-thirds of the 174 households in the Piedra Angular subdivision have drinking water service, but there is no wastewater collection system. Some residents use substandard on-site wastewater disposal systems, while many simply discharge their wastewater directly to the street. CESPTE proposes extending access to drinking water
service to the remaining households in the subdivision, as well as providing first-time wastewater collection services to all of the residents.

Description

The project consists of constructing a wastewater collection system, including residential sewer connections and decommissioning of any existing septic tanks and latrines, as well as providing access to the existing water distribution system for 51 households, in the Piedra
Angular subdivision. The main project components include:

• Water components: Installation of 408 m (1,339 ft.) of 3/4” polyethylene pipeline, providing access to water hookups for 51 households.
• Wastewater components:
  • Construction of a sewer system, using 2,395 m (7,858 ft.)of 8” PVC pipeline;
  • Installation of 174 residential sewer connections; and decommissioning of 48 septic tanks and latrines.

Benefits

The implementation of this project will provide sewer service to all 174 households (approximately 644 residents) in the Piedra Angular subdivision. Once completed, it will eliminate an estimated 34,000 gallons a day of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater discharges, as well as the risk of contamination of existing groundwater resources
from substandard on-site disposal systems, including shared water bodies such as the Tecate and Tijuana Rivers. In addition, the project will provide access to drinking water service for 51 households in the subdivision, which are currently not connected to the existing
distribution system.