Water Infrastructure Program

With the goal of increasing the reliability of drinking water for water customers now and generations to come, the City of Poway is undertaking the largest capital improvement program (CIP) in the city’s 40-year history. 

Read the February 2026 Update

Water Projects Overview

The CIP will include replacing the clearwell (water storage reservoir) at the water treatment plant and a new San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) treated water connection and redundant pipeline. In order to replace the clearwell, a bypass system consisting of two 1.4 million-gallon tanks, pipelines, a pump station and other appurtenances will be constructed. 

These infrastructure improvement projects were in the planning stage for a long time and are moving ahead as part of a mutual agreement between Poway and the State Division of Drinking Water.

Clearwell Replacement Project

  1. 1 Biofiltration basin December 2025
  2. 2 Interior of a Clearwell tank
  3. 3 Final touches on the Shotcrete exterior November 2025
  4. 4 Final shotcrete applied November 2025
  5. 5 Formwork placement looking east April 2025
  6. 6 North tank column formwork April 2025
  7. 7 Vertical shoring and scaffolding assembled April 2025
  8. 8 Drone Photo Poway Clearwell project August 2025
  9. 9 walls and columns construction north tank
  10. 10 Concrete pour for Clearwell tanks
  11. 11 north tank first concrete pour

Temporary Bypass Project

  1. 1 treated water bypass construction
  2. 2 treated water bypass construction
  3. 3 treated water bypass construction
  4. 4 treated water bypass construction
  5. 5 treated water bypass construction
  6. 6 treated water bypass construction
  7. 7 treated water bypass construction
  8. 8 temporary treated water bypass construction
  9. 9 temporary treated water bypass construction
Project Timeline
March 2021Update to City Council on project status
September 2021Temporary Bypass Project begins
September 2022Temporary Bypass Project construction completed
December 2023Clearwell Replacement Project start of construction
Spring 2026New Clearwell Tanks commissioned (projected)
2027Treated Water Connection Project start of construction (tentative)


Temporary Bypass Project - Completed

Temporary tanks on the ballfield at Lake PowayThe first project was constructing the temporary bypass for storing treated water. After evaluating all the options, the site that was determined to best meet the criteria was the ballfield at Lake Poway. The ballfield is immediately adjacent to the water treatment plant and has a graded pad to accommodate the temporary tanks. No other location provided the space and proximity without major modifications.

The construction of the temporary bypass project was complex. It required working around active recreational areas, the city’s water treatment plant and critical live pipelines. Although it involved extensive rock excavation, it was completed on time, under budget, and with no interruptions in water service.

The total of all negotiated change orders was less than 4.5 percent of the construction contract. Change orders are expenses that occur outside of the original contract. This is significant in that the average percentage for a project of this scope is typically twice that amount (closer to 10 percent).

Work began in September 2021 and was completed in September 2022.

Anticipated impacts at Lake Poway:

  • The ballfield will be used for temporary water storage tanks and currently unavailable for use. 
  • The parking lot adjacent to the volleyball courts is currently open but will be used as a staging area for the Clearwell Replacement Project. This will reduce overall parking capacity by 38 spots.

The city will work with the project contractors to develop a construction plan that limits the impact to neighborhoods adjacent to Lake Poway, as well as park guests. Once the clearwell is replaced and the temporary tanks are removed, the ballfield will be restored back to its original condition.

Clearwell Replacement Project

Clearwell replacement constructionThe clearwell replacement project consists of replacing the existing floating cover system clearwell built in 1964 with two new prestressed concrete tanks. The existing clearwell has reached the end of its useful life and is in need of replacement to maintain reliable service to Poway water customers.

The new reservoirs are four-million-gallon prestressed concrete tanks that will provide redundancy and operational flexibility, allowing one tank to be taken offline for maintenance and repairs while the other provides continuous, uninterrupted service. The prestressed concrete tanks provide superior quality and a longer asset life. The overflow structure will also be brought to industry standards with proper air gaps. Construction started in December 2023.

Treated Water Connection/Redundant Pipeline

The treated water connection and redundant pipeline project is a cooperative effort with the Ramona Municipal Water District and provides Poway with its first treated water connection, as well as providing a redundant treated water delivery pipeline. This project will help diversify Poway's water supply portfolio and allow for operational flexibility and plant maintenance. It will also provide a redundant pipeline to the 36" water transmission line on Lake Poway Road, which is currently the single transmission line that carries treated water to the distribution system.

An update on the this project was shared at the Feb. 3 Poway City Council meeting.

Tentative construction start date is 2027. 

Project Update: February 2026

Construction of the city’s $31.6 million replacement Clearwell is roughly 95% complete. The Clearwell Replacement Project, two 4-million-gallon prestressed tanks to store treated water, was preceded by the construction of a temporary bypass system. The new tanks are expected to be online by late spring and once the temporary bypass system is removed, the ballfield at Lake Poway will be restored (Fall 2026).

February update on clearwell replacement progress

Photo above: Interior of a Clearwell tank, storm drain extension and biofiltration basin; aerial view of construction Fall 2025.

Resources

For More Information

For questions about the water infrastructure projects, please contact Community Outreach Coordinator Rene Carmichael at 858-668-4506 or by email.

May 10 Town Hall