Allies
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Desal Proponents
Poseidon Resources, Inc.
Based in Stanford, Conn. this private company built the largest
ocean desal plant in the western hemisphere in Tampa Bay, Flor.
that finally opened in 2007 after ten years of issues. The 25 MGD
facility has yet never worked to full capacity and the local water
authority bought the plant to get rid of Poseidon and now costs to fix
the broken plant are expected to be at least $29 million.
Now, Poseidon is planning several ocean desal plants in California,
all twice the size of the failed Tampa Bay plant. They are currently
working on proposals in Huntington Beach and Carlsbad (both 50
MGD), and have recently made an agreement with Pajaro-Sunny
Mesa to work on a plant in Moss Landing (20-25 MGD).
California American Water (Cal Am)
Cal Am was purchased in 2003 by American Water Works, which
was subsequently purchased by the German-owned comglomerate
RWE. There currently is a ballot initiative in the Monterey area for a
public takeover of Cal Am through Measure W.
Cal Am is planning to build a 9 to 18 MGD plant in Moss Landing, in
agreement with Poseidon. They have proposed a rate increase to
their customers to pay for this plant when it is still unsure if the plant
will ever be built and ever produce water. The issue is in front of the
California Public Utilities Commissions (CPUC) at this moment.
Based in Stanford, Conn. this private company built the largest
ocean desal plant in the western hemisphere in Tampa Bay, Flor.
that finally opened in 2007 after ten years of issues. The 25 MGD
facility has yet never worked to full capacity and the local water
authority bought the plant to get rid of Poseidon and now costs to fix
the broken plant are expected to be at least $29 million.
Now, Poseidon is planning several ocean desal plants in California,
all twice the size of the failed Tampa Bay plant. They are currently
working on proposals in Huntington Beach and Carlsbad (both 50
MGD), and have recently made an agreement with Pajaro-Sunny
Mesa to work on a plant in Moss Landing (20-25 MGD).
California American Water (Cal Am)
Cal Am was purchased in 2003 by American Water Works, which
was subsequently purchased by the German-owned comglomerate
RWE. There currently is a ballot initiative in the Monterey area for a
public takeover of Cal Am through Measure W.
Cal Am is planning to build a 9 to 18 MGD plant in Moss Landing, in
agreement with Poseidon. They have proposed a rate increase to
their customers to pay for this plant when it is still unsure if the plant
will ever be built and ever produce water. The issue is in front of the
California Public Utilities Commissions (CPUC) at this moment.
Public Water Agencies
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
(MWD)
The MWD is the largest water district in the US. It has offered $250
per acre-foot subsidy for potable water produced by desal plants.
This subsidy, promised before any plants have been buit or are
producting water, lowers the cost of the desal water, essentially
hiding its true price tag.
MWD is looking at regional desal plants that could potentially
produce up to 100 MGD at the Haynes power plant in Long Beach as
well as a 100 MGD proposal with SDCWA and MWDOC to be located
at the San Onofre nuclear power plant.
Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)
MWDOC is looking at using subsurface beach wells at their
proposed desal plant in Dana Point in SoCal. The facility would
produce 10 to 25 MGD and is currently in the testing stage. They are
also involved with a 100 MGD proposal with SDCWA and MWD to be
located at the San Onofre nuclear power plant.
Pajaro-Sunny Mesa (PSMCSD)
Pajaro-Sunny Mesa Community Service District is a non-profit,
governmental agency that provides public water services and public
works to the communities in North Monterey County. They currently
have an agreement with Poseidon for a 20 to 25 MGD desal plant in
Moss Landing.
San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA)
SDCWA recently released an EIR for their proposed desal facility at
the Encina power plant in Carlsbad. This plant would produce 50
MGD with a future expansion of 30 MGD. They also proposed a desal
plant in South Bay but that is currently on hold, and are also involved
in the 100 MGD proposal located at San Onofre.
West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin)
West Basin is involved with a pilot plant that is currently running at
the El Segundo power plant in Southern California. However, they
have not secured a site for a full-scale desal plant at this location.
(MWD)
The MWD is the largest water district in the US. It has offered $250
per acre-foot subsidy for potable water produced by desal plants.
This subsidy, promised before any plants have been buit or are
producting water, lowers the cost of the desal water, essentially
hiding its true price tag.
MWD is looking at regional desal plants that could potentially
produce up to 100 MGD at the Haynes power plant in Long Beach as
well as a 100 MGD proposal with SDCWA and MWDOC to be located
at the San Onofre nuclear power plant.
Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)
MWDOC is looking at using subsurface beach wells at their
proposed desal plant in Dana Point in SoCal. The facility would
produce 10 to 25 MGD and is currently in the testing stage. They are
also involved with a 100 MGD proposal with SDCWA and MWD to be
located at the San Onofre nuclear power plant.
Pajaro-Sunny Mesa (PSMCSD)
Pajaro-Sunny Mesa Community Service District is a non-profit,
governmental agency that provides public water services and public
works to the communities in North Monterey County. They currently
have an agreement with Poseidon for a 20 to 25 MGD desal plant in
Moss Landing.
San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA)
SDCWA recently released an EIR for their proposed desal facility at
the Encina power plant in Carlsbad. This plant would produce 50
MGD with a future expansion of 30 MGD. They also proposed a desal
plant in South Bay but that is currently on hold, and are also involved
in the 100 MGD proposal located at San Onofre.
West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin)
West Basin is involved with a pilot plant that is currently running at
the El Segundo power plant in Southern California. However, they
have not secured a site for a full-scale desal plant at this location.
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Reports & Responses
World Heath Organization (WHO) - Desalination for Safe Water
Supply
The National Acadamies - Desalination Could Boost U.S. Water
Supplies
World Wildlife Federation (WWF) - Desalination - option or distraction
for a thirsty world?
Pacific Institute - Desalination, With a Grain of Salt: A California
Perspective
Food & Water Watch - Desalination: An Ocean of Problems
OTC Scoping Document Update for Power Plant Open Intakes
Supply
The National Acadamies - Desalination Could Boost U.S. Water
Supplies
World Wildlife Federation (WWF) - Desalination - option or distraction
for a thirsty world?
Pacific Institute - Desalination, With a Grain of Salt: A California
Perspective
Food & Water Watch - Desalination: An Ocean of Problems
OTC Scoping Document Update for Power Plant Open Intakes