The Las Virgenes – Triunfo Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Board of Directors approved the progressive design-build contract for Phase 2 design and construction of the Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday night, fulfilling a critical component of the Pure Water Project Las Virgenes – Triunfo (PWP).
Following several months of negotiations with Walsh Construction, JPA staff presented the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of Phase 2 for Board approval, encompassing the construction of the AWPF and a Reverse Osmosis Concentrate pipeline. Approval of the GMP reflects more than a decade of stakeholder coordination, planning, design and other preparatory work to allow the JPA to build this generational project.
The Pure Water Project Las Virgenes-Triunfo is one of the most significant capital improvement projects in the JPA’s 60-year history, creating a new and sustainable water supply for the drought-prone Las Virgenes-Conejo region. Once operational, the project will provide up to 30% of the region’s water needs from a local source, significantly reducing the JPA’s reliance on imported water from the State Water Project.
Furthermore, the project will effectively eliminate the discharge of recycled water into Malibu Creek, protecting the sensitive ecosystem of the Malibu Creek Watershed.
“This vote is the culmination of years of dedicated research, planning, collaboration and public engagement,” said JPA Chair and TWSD Chair Leon Shapiro. “Approving this contract is the single most important step we can take right now to secure a sustainable, resilient water supply for our community now and into the future.”
Construction of the AWPF, which will be located in Agoura Hills, is set to begin in April 2026, with a groundbreaking ceremony tentatively scheduled for March 2026. Construction for all elements of the facility and associated pipelines is scheduled to be completed by 2029, clearing the way for an operational start in early 2030.
The new AWPF will take recycled water from Tapia Water Reclamation Facility and purify it to exceed state and federal drinking water standards through an advanced purification process comprised of microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection with advanced oxidation. This purified water will be sent to the Las Virgenes Reservoir to be mixed with the existing imported water supply before reentering the distribution system and arriving at customers’ homes and businesses. The PWP will be the third surface water augmentation project of its kind in the state.
With the contract approved, the AWPF will produce water for 105,000 customers served by the JPA for a total estimated project cost of $466 million.
“This is a monumental project that will benefit our ratepayers for generations,” commented JPA Vice Chair and LVMWD Board President Andy Coradeschi. “This is about future-proofing our entire region to the impacts of climate change and subsequent water supply challenges. For the first time ever, we will have a local source of drinking water. We are investing in the resilience and long-term reliability of this region and ensuring that we are not solely dependent on fragile imported supplies. This project secures our future and is a crucial investment.”
A project of this size and scope is made possible through the JPA’s collaboration with a progressive designbuild team contracted to bring the PWP to fruition, which includes Walsh Construction, Jacobs Engineering, Carollo Engineers, and Brown and Caldwell. Additionally, partnerships with agencies including the City of Agoura Hills, City of Westlake Village, City of Thousand Oaks and Calleguas Municipal Water District have been integral to making sure this project crosses the finish line.
Be sure to follow LVMWD and TWSD on Facebook and X @lvmwd and @TriunfoWSD, and on Instagram @LasVirgenes_MWD for updates and more information on the PWP.
