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Desalination and Future of Water Supply in Southern California

/in , /by

The cutting-edge world of desalination and the future of water supply in Southern California is the topic for conversation and insight from water agency officials in a new podcast. The four distinguished guests are from San Diego County Water Authority, Eastern Municipal Water District, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District and South Coast Water District.

Learn how these projects work, their impact on California’s thirst during dry times.

From coastlines to arid inland regions, seawater and brackish water desalination projects are popping up like never before. But how do they work? What is the environmental impact? And can they really quench California’s thirst during those dry times? Are they truly drought proof?

These four are each at the helm of a water agency contributing to this critical conversation: Dan Denham, General Manager of the San Diego County Water Authority; Joe Mouawad, General Manager of the Eastern Municipal Water District; David Pedersen, General Manager of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District; and Rick Shintaku, General Manager of the South Coast Water District.

Watch the “What Matters Water TV + Podcast” here

Clean Energy Alliance Approves MOU That Would Include Service to Carlsbad Desalination Plant

/in , , /by /Del Mar Timesby Luke Harold

The Clean Energy Alliance Board of Directors approved a memorandum of understanding on July 27 that would bring the largest consumer of electricity within Carlsbad into the fold. The San Diego County Water Authority and Channelside, the company that owns the Carlsbad Desalination Plant, have an agreement that allows the water authority decision-making power on an electricity provider, according to a CEA staff report. The MOU, which is pending final approval later this year, would make the Clean Energy Alliance that provider.

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As Water Crisis Persists, San Diego Looks at Treated Wastewater as a Drinking Water Source

/in , , /by /Fox 10 Phoenix by Steve Nielsen

As Arizona faces an ongoing mega-drought and a mounting water crisis, leaders are looking for ways to ensure Arizona’s water supply.

In 2023, Arizona will lose 20% of its water allotment from the Colorado River, and countless steps are have been taken by government officials in the state, with water conservation plans implemented by various cities.

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Carlsbad Aquafarms Gets Grant for Living Shoreline Project

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Phil Diehl

The Carlsbad Aquafarm has been allocated a $230,000 grant to install and monitor native oyster reefs and eelgrass meadows along the shore of Agua Hedionda Lagoon near the strawberry fields, the Carlsbad desalination plant and the Encina power plant.

Oysters and mussels have been grown commercially in the outer lagoon since the 1950s, when San Diego Gas & Electric Co. dredged it to make it deeper and provide a constant source of seawater to cool the power plant.

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Thirst for Water: How the Nation’s Largest Desalination Plant is Generating Change

/in , , , /by /Water Onlineby Vic Bianes and Jeremy Crutchfield Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

When the nation’s largest desalination plant opened in Carlsbad, California, in 2015, people across the country were watching to see how it increased water supplies as groundwater dwindled, reservoirs dried up, and drought ravaged the Golden State.

Nearly 10 years later, the plant has demonstrated how seawater desalination can play a pivotal role in achieving water security.

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Upgrade Costs for Carlsbad Desalination Plant Will Be Passed Along to San Diego Ratepayers

/in , /by /KPBS Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Water bills in San Diego are about to go up, and that increase is due in part to planned upgrades at the Carlsbad Desalination Plant. Those upgrades are estimated to cost $274 million. The San Diego County Water Authority approved the upgrades to the plant’s seawater intakes at a board meeting on Thursday.

“This action by the board moves the Carlsbad Desalination Plant one step closer to meeting state marine life mandates,” said Water Authority Board Chair Mel Katz. “Staff has worked diligently to ensure that the costs are as low as possible while continuing to provide our region with a drought-proof source of water. We are thankful to have this resource when so much of the West is suffering from extreme drought, and we expect it will be increasingly valuable as climate change further disrupts California’s hydrology.”

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Modified Seawater Intakes Approved for Carlsbad Desalination Plant

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribune by Phil Diehl

A permit approved Thursday by the California Coastal Commission will allow the Carlsbad desalination plant to modify its seawater intakes and discharge structures to better protect marine life and create a “stand-alone” system.

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Carlsbad Desalination Plant Cuts Energy Demand to Help Avoid Blackouts

/in , , /by /Water News Network Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Poseidon Resources (Channelside) LP and the San Diego County Water Authority are temporarily reducing water production at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant to support statewide emergency energy conservation efforts during the extreme heat wave.

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Carlsbad Desal Plant Water Output Cut 20% to Conserve Power Amid Heat Wave

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein

Water production at the Carlsbad desalination plan has been temporarily reduced to conserve power while the heat wave stresses California’s electric grid.

The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, which can produce up to 50 million gallons per day, typically accounts for about 1% of peak electricity demand in San Diego Gas & Electric’s service area.

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As Bay Area Faces Prolonged Drought, Recycling and Desalination Are the Only Two Real Options

/in , , /by /San Francisco Examinerby Jessica Wolfrom Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Despite being surrounded by water, Bay Area residents are routinely told during dry years to take shorter showers, let lawns brown and slow the rush of water from their taps.

But as climate change prolongs drought and challenges local water supply, regional water managers are warning that none of those actions will be enough. Many say the time has come to invest in technically feasible, though politically and environmentally complicated alternatives like purifying wastewater and sucking salt out of seawater to bolster stores.