Desalination is moving forward

AD - 75 (R)

Since seawater desalination is important to Southern California, I was pleased to participate in a tour of Carlsbad's Poseidon plant, along with legislators from throughout the state.

This $1 billion plant is the largest, most advanced desalination facility in North America. Once the project goes on-line, 50 million gallons of desalinated potable water will be supplied to North County daily. Presently, almost half the region’s water is imported by the Metropolitan Water District, though that amount is dropping. By 2020, MWD-supplied water will drop to about 30 percent of the total, with desalinated water from Carlsbad supplying seven to 10 percent.

The Carlsbad project was many years in the making. The permitting process alone took six years and required approval by the Coastal Commission, State Lands Commission and Regional Water Quality Control Board. Through energy efficiencies and coastal habitat enhancement, Carlsbad's is one of the most environmentally friendly desalination projects on earth. However, bureaucratic delays were compounded by years of costly lawsuits filed by environmental groups seeking to block the project.

With construction of new desalination projects under consideration, including a proposed new plant at Camp Pendleton, the hurdles faced at Carlsbad are worrisome. Obviously, the approval process must be expedited by eliminating or streamlining these bureaucratic and legal hurdles.

While desal isn’t the only solution to our growing need for a reliable and sustainable water supply, tapping into this drought-proof resource has to be an essential part of any comprehensive plan that seeks to quench California’s massive thirst.