Nipomo looks to desalination to increase water supply

Nipomo, a small coastal community, has been overdrafting it’s aquifer for years, and has been searching for additional water. From SanLuisObispo.com:

The Nipomo Community Services District board has narrowed several options that it has considered in recent months to two: buying state water or building a desalination plant.

A desal plant would cost between $80 million and $100 million, according to a study completed for the district by consultants Boyle Engineering. And the plant could take at least eight years to complete, the report states.

The board may choose either state water or desalination, or both, according to district General Manager Bruce Buel. But the district likely can’t afford state water and desalination.

The board is expected to vote at a Dec. 12 meeting, Buel said.

Given the choices, district board President Michael Winn believes desalination would be the best long-term source of water. “It’s the only long-term, sustainable drought-proof source of water on the coast,” Winn said. “We should be thankful we’re not out in the Mojave Desert.”

The proposed desalination plant would provide enough water to support the maximum development as per the county plan. The plant would be paid for by connection fees for new developments and payments from current water customers.

To read the full text of this article from SanLuisObispo.com, click here.

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