The Paso Robles City Council on Feb. 18 gave a green light to building a plant that would treat water from Lake Nacimiento.

The city was an early supporter of the Nacimiento Water Project, buying bonds to fund a pipeline that delivers water to municipalities throughout the county. The city, which also draws water from the Paso Robles groundwater basin, has increasingly looked toward putting its 4,000-acre feet allotment to use as increasing demand from the greater area above the basin has put a strain on the water below.

The contract allots approximately $11 million for Cushman Contracting to build the plant, necessary to treat the water because the lake is a body-contact surface water source—meaning people touch it (and more)—according to Christopher Alakel, water resources manager for the city. The plant is expected to be finished by summer of 2015, and will deliver 2.5 million gallons per day.

-- Melody DeMeritt - former city council member, Morro Bay