Case Study: Purified Water System Upgrade at UC San Diego Health – Hillcrest
Water is fundamental to the operations of any hospital—but at an academic medical center like UC San Diego Health – Hillcrest, it’s mission critical. From instrument washing and dilution to compounding and sterilization, purified water supports patient care at every level. When the facility needed a modernized system to replace outdated infrastructure, they turned to Water Works for a solution engineered for performance, reliability, and minimal disruption.
A Modern Ultrapure Water System, Delivered Without Downtime
Water Works, a MECO company, designed and delivered a new Purified Water system tailored to the hospital’s footprint and operational requirements. The custom skid-mounted system was fabricated and tested at our San Diego facility, then delivered and installed on-site in a matter of hours—reducing disruption, cost, and complexity.
Challenges We Solved
Operational continuity: Replacing aging systems in a live hospital environment carries real risks. Pre-fabrication and offsite testing allowed for rapid installation without interrupting critical operations.
Space constraints: The custom skid design offered a space-saving solution, eliminating the need for extensive renovations or sacrificing valuable floor space.
Time and cost pressures: By completing 98% of the build and testing off-site, Water Works minimized onsite labor, reducing installation time and budget impact.
Outdated equipment & compliance risks: The hospital’s previous system lacked modern controls and failed to meet current performance standards. The new system ensures long-term compliance and optimized performance.
Installation Highlights
Space-saving, fire-rated construction: Built with 25/50 fire-rated, IR-fused PVDF piping, the system meets hospital fire safety requirements while delivering ultra-pure welds that support system longevity and integrity.
Low-pressure performance: The new reverse osmosis (RO) system reduced pressure from 200 psi to 50 psi—a 75% drop—resulting in less strain on infrastructure, lower energy usage, and increased reliability.
Redundancy for reliability: Redundant distribution pumps and storage tanks were added to maintain continuous purified water supply, even during maintenance or unexpected equipment failures.
Efficient, pumpless RO design: The system’s pumpless RO configuration delivers the required water quality with fewer moving parts—streamlining maintenance and reducing total cost of ownership.
The Result
UC San Diego Health – Hillcrest now operates a modern, energy-efficient purified water system that delivers:
- 4x footprint reduction
- 75% pressure reduction (200 psi → 50 psi)
- Lower capital and operating costs
- Increased system reliability and regulatory compliance
The installation was completed with minimal impact to patient care, staff workflows, or hospital infrastructure.
Powered by MECO. Delivered by Water Works.
Water Works brings MECO’s century-long legacy of water purification to medical centers across California with fast-turnaround, compact purified water systems backed by regional expertise. Together, we’re powering critical care environments and the breakthroughs that happen within them.
Let’s power your next breakthrough.
Contact us to learn more about our ultrapure water solutions for healthcare and life sciences.