California Coastal Commission

Seawater Desalination In California

SYNOPSIS & PURPOSE
With population growth and the recent six-year drought contributing to an increase in Californians' concerns about water scarcity, several communities and industries in California have proposed constructing desalination plants to convert saline water (e.g., seawater, brackish water or treated wastewater into fresh water. !ecause all or portions of seawater desalination plants will be located in the coastal "one, the facilities will come under California Coastal #ct re$uirements. %his report provides background technical and policy information on desalination. %he document was reviewed by the California Coastal Commission but has not been adopted as a policy document. %he Commission's &nergy and 'cean (esources and %echnical )ervices *ivision staff has prepared this report to provide the Coastal Commission, local governments, state and federal agency staffs, and the public with the following information+

# brief description of desalination technologies, %he status of seawater desalination in California, Coastal #ct issues that pertain to the siting and construction of desalination plants in the coastal "one,

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a %he permitting process for desalination plants b # listing of other agencies with regulatory authority over desalination, c -egislative issues related to desalination plants,

(ecommendations.

Coastal Desalination Plants Map

.o to Key Desalination Facts (eturn to )eawater *esalination in California a!le of Contents

.o to )eawater *esalination in California "lossary (eturn to California Coastal Commission P#!lications $ist (eturn to California Coastal Commission %ome Pa&e