San Diegans haven’t had a peek behind the financial curtains of the city’s Pure Water project since 2012. Pure Water is a wastewater treatment project city officials have been pursuing for years.

And now reporter MacKenzie Elmer has the numbers.

On one hand, the price tag looks considerably bigger per acre-foot of water than it did back in 2012. On the other, Pure Water may be able to produce water at a slightly cheaper rate than the San Diego County Water Authority, which has been coming under fire from city leaders for its high costs and proposed rate increases.

In 2012, city staff estimated Pure Water would be able to produce water at $1,800 an acre-foot. Now they say it will cost $3,527. Most of that increase comes from inflation, city staff say.

“Looking at the full picture, Pure

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