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Marin Municipal Water District approves desalination plan; could be ready by 2014

Posted by: Maven on August 20, 2009 at 8:20 am

From the Marin Independent Journal:

“The Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors voted 4-0 Wednesday night to move forward with a controversial desalination project over the objections of dozens of speakers who called for the agency to solve its supply issues through conservation.

The vote doesn’t mean the plant is a done deal. It will be a year or two before the district will begin the process to build a plant and there still will be time for more deliberation on the issue, according to water officials.

A 5 million gallon-per-day facility, expandable to 15 million gallons-per-day, was the option selected by the board. The desalination plan also includes a conservation component.

The decision did not sit well with many who came out to voice opposition to the plan to pump cleaned bay water to taps. “It’s an outrage you would be talking of drawing water from this toxic mess,” said resident Dr. Larry Rose, who spoke at the sometimes heated hearing at the Showcase Theater at the Marin Civic Center. …”

More from the Marin Independent Journal by clicking here.

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

“Most speakers at the at-times boisterous meeting attended by about 200 people opposed the desalination facility on the grounds that it is too costly, would harm marine life and could expose people to harmful bay chemicals. What’s more, they say, the steep energy needs of the plant will pump huge amounts of climate-changing gases into the atmosphere.

“When you look at the bigger picture, it makes no sense,” said Mark Schlosberg of Food Water Watch, an environmental advocacy group.

But the district and others say desalination is the best way to satisfy projected population and economic growth. “We’re concerned about bringing supply and demand into balance,” Hal Brown, president of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, said during the meeting’s public comment portion. …”

Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.

August 20, 2009 · Filed Under Desalination

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