'Desalination'

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In response to water shortages in the state, some water districts are looking to desalination as a way to provide water for residents. Supporters view seawater desalination as a safer water source, since it draws its water from the ocean and thus, is not affected by periods of drought like other sources of water are. Another incentive for desalination is the ability for localities to be more self-sufficient with their water supply, thus improving their drought resilience. However, desalination has been the subject of scrutiny by opponents, who believe that the costs and possible environmental effects of desalination are indicators that California should continue to pursue other alternatives[1].

Although the response to desalination has been mixed, some areas of California are moving forward with seawater desalination. In December of 2015, Poseidon Water completed the construction of the Claude "Bud" Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant [2]. This facility, which was approved by the San Diego Water Authority, is responsible for providing water for about 8% of San Diego County's water by the year 2020[3]. As of December 2015, there are 6 additional seawater desalination plants currently in operation in the state of California. As of May 2016, there are also 9 more proposed desalination plants[4].

  1. ^ Cooley, Heather; Gleick, Peter; Hartman Wolff, Gary (2006). Desalination, with a grain of salt a California perspective. Oakland, Ca: Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security. pp. 39–68. ISBN 1-893790-13-4.
  2. ^ "Carlsbad Desal Plant". Poseidon Water. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
  3. ^ "Seawater Desalination". www.sdcwa.org. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
  4. ^ "Existing and Proposed Seawater Desalination Plants in California - Pacific Institute". Pacific Institute. Retrieved 2017-07-30.