Is desalination damned in Cambria? Mercury contamination and other environmental concerns plague Cambria’s proposed desalination plant

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 5, 2010 at 6:34 am

From New Times SLO:

“Los Osos has its sewer battle, Morro Bay has its controversial smoke stacks, and Cambria has its perpetual dispute over a proposed desalination plant. Residents there have been fighting with the town’s leaders for more than 15 years. Most recently, a proposal to drill testing wells drew loud criticisms from people worried about the environmental consequences of disturbing the fragile Cambrian coastline, particularly after officials claimed there wouldn’t be any environmental impacts.

“A lot of people in town got very concerned when the service district tried to—well it didn’t try—it filed for a categorical exclusion saying basically since in their opinion … there’s no negligible impact on biological entities that we could just skip the environmental review and go right to drilling,” resident Jim Webb said. Webb helped create several coastal protection areas in Cambria and was one of about 15 people who spoke at the Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) Jan. 5 special board meeting. “A lot of us thought that was a bit hasty and not well supported.” … “

March 5, 2010 · Filed Under Desalination

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Decision postponed on desalination test environmental report

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 4, 2010 at 6:37 am

From the San Luis Obispo Tribune:

“A decision on taking the next step in desalination plant planning was postponed Feb. 25 by Cambria Community Services District directors. More time is needed, they decided, to review detailed, technical comments about the district’s finding that there would be no significant environmental impact caused by drilling a series of holes on the beach near a popular public park and the mouth of Santa Rosa Creek.

The report said such impacts from the $733,000 geotechnical and hydrogeologic tests would not significantly affect the surrounding coastal habitat.

The holes are intended to provide an in-depth view of the area’s geologic makeup, to see how deep the layer of sand and clay is atop bedrock, helping to determine how much sea water could be drawn through those materials and pumped to a desalination plant. … “

Continue reading this article from the San Luis Obispo Tribune by clicking here.

March 4, 2010 · Filed Under Desalination

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Brine concentrate reports published by Bureau of Reclamation

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 1, 2010 at 6:40 am

From Desalination & Water Reuse:

“Reports deriving from the Southern California Regional Brine-Concentrate Management Study – Phase 1 have been made available on the website of the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR).

The Southern California Regional Brine-Concentrate Management Study is a collaboration between the USBR and 14 local and state agency partners, who together form the Brine Executive Management Team. The team identified the management of brine-concentrate from desalination and other water treatment processes as significant in addressing southern California’s water supply reliability.

Development of lower quality waters often requires the use of membrane or other treatment technologies that produce brine or concentrate waste streams. This waste is classified by the US  Environmental Protection Agency as an industrial waste and can face regulatory limitations on disposal. … “

Continue reading this article at Desalination & Water Reuse by clicking here.

March 1, 2010 · Filed Under Desalination

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A new desalination method for California water woes?

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 27, 2010 at 8:20 am

From the LA Times Greenspace blog:

“The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s rationing program has reduced the city’s water use to an 18-year low. But Los Angeles’ long-term water challenges are well-documented. Why can’t the city take advantage of the sea to solve its water shortage? Because conventional approaches to desalination, the removal of salt from water, are too energy-intensive, and therefore too expensive, for widespread use. As a result, the total capacity of all of California’s desalination plants is little more than a 10th of Los Angeles’ annual water consumption.

A desalination plant that would provide water for 100,000 homes is moving forward in San Diego.
Traditional desalination occurs through one of two processes. The first is distillation, during which water is heated and evaporated before the resulting vapor is condensed to form fresh water. The second and more common method is reverse osmosis, during which water is forced through a membrane through which salt cannot pass.

A Canadian startup, Saltworks Technologies, is promoting a new, innovative process that it claims will reduce desalination electricity costs by up to 80%. The key to understanding Saltworks’ thermo-ionic desalination process is appreciating the chemical nature of salt, which is composed of positively charged sodium and negatively charged chlorine ions. … “

Continue reading this article at the LA Times Greenspace blog by clicking here.

February 27, 2010 · Filed Under Desalination

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European thoughts on economics of coastal management

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 27, 2010 at 8:18 am

From Desalination & Water Reuse:

“D&WR readers involved in environmental studies for seawater desalination plants may be interested in a series of briefings just published via the European Union’s Science for Environmental Policy website under the heading Coastal Management.

Prof Raimonds Ernsteins  of the University of Latvia, Riga, says in a preface, “We need to better understand the ongoing processes in this complex and sensitive system of nature-human interactions and to reduce the negative impacts of coastal change. To achieve this we must draw on research expertise, not only from natural sciences and engineering, but also increasingly and pressingly from social sciences and economics, with clear and effective stakeholder engagement to develop participatory and integrated policies.”

Two studies in particular seem worth looking up, as both are concerned with economic values for environmental factors: … “

Continue reading this article from Desalination & Water Reuse by clicking here.

February 27, 2010 · Filed Under Desalination

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Why no rose? Seems clear: Oceanside’s Sanchez desal vote indicative of misplaced values, says editorial

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 15, 2010 at 6:22 am

From the North County Times, this editorial:

“Oceanside City Councilwoman Esther Sanchez’s vote Wednesday on the California Coastal Commission was a good example of why we weren’t exactly thrilled when she was named to the commission late last year.

The California Coastal Commission was in town with an agenda that included a request by the Coast Law Group to revoke the Poseidon Resources Corp.’s previously granted permit to build the Carlsbad water desalination project. The environmental group accused the company of hiding some relevant data on the operation’s greenhouse gas emissions —- a charge the company disputed.

We happen to think it is worth pursuing the desal plant, which when fully operational will produce 50 million gallons of water each day for our thirsty region. And the company’s sin, if there was one, didn’t change most people’s opinion of the project, including the California Air Resources Board.

Desalination is an important piece of solving Southern California’s water problem.

Apparently, Sanchez doesn’t agree, as she declared Poseidon guilty of “an intentional lack of disclosure on a material issue” and voted on the losing side of the issue. … “

February 15, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Research report: Harmful algae and their potential impacts on desalination operations off southern California

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 14, 2010 at 7:18 am

From Political Ecology and Science Direct, a report on the affect of algae on desalination. Here is the abstract:

“Seawater desalination by reverse osmosis (RO) is a reliable method for augmenting drinking water supplies. In recent years, the number and size of these water projects have increased dramatically. As freshwater resources become limited due to global climate change, rising demand, and exhausted local water supplies, seawater desalination will play an important role in the world’s future water supply, reaching far beyond its deep roots in the Middle East.

Emerging contaminants have been widely discussed with respect to wastewater and freshwater sources, but also must be considered for seawater desalination facilities to ensure the long-term safety and suitability of this emerging water supply.

Harmful algal blooms, frequently referred to as ‘red tides’ due to their vibrant colors, are a concern for desalination plants due to the high biomass of microalgae present in ocean waters during these events, and a variety of substances that some of these algae produce. These compounds range from noxious substances to powerful neurotoxins that constitute significant public health risks if they are not effectively and completely removed by the RO membranes.

Algal blooms can cause significant operational issues that result in increased chemical consumption, increased membrane fouling rates, and in extreme cases, a plant to be taken off-line. Early algal bloom detection by desalination facilities is essential so that operational adjustments can be made to ensure that production capacity remains unaffected.

This review identifies the toxic substances, their known producers, and our present state of knowledge regarding the causes of toxic episodes, with a special focus on the Southern California Bight.”

You can read the report by clicking here.

February 14, 2010 · Filed Under Desalination

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State agency denies challenge to Carlsbad desalination project

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 11, 2010 at 6:10 am

From KPBS:

“The California Coastal Commission voted 8-to-4 Wednesday to dismiss a challenge to the construction permit for a proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad.

The Commission denied the revocation request by Surfrider Foundation and San Diego Coastkeeper after a three-hour hearing.

The location of the recently-approved Carlsbad Desalination Plant.
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It was the second time in as many months that the coastal development permit for the plant faced a revocation hearing. Supporters and opponents of the project testified in person at the meeting or sent in letters.

Attorney Marco Gonzalez with the Encinitas-based Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation represented Surfrider and Coastkeeper in challenging the permit.

“One of the reasons we remain vigilant in our opposition to this particular project is because it’s precedent-setting,” said Gonzalez. “This is the first of many and we’ve learned how a project can go forward in a totally wrong manner. This is it.” … “

Coastal Commission denies attempt to revoke Carlsbad desalination permit

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 10, 2010 at 4:29 pm

From Poseidon Resources:

“San Diego, CA – The California Coastal Commission today voted to dismiss a request filed by opponents of seawater desalination to revoke the Carlsbad Desalination Project’s Coastal Development Permit (CDP). The vote marked the second time in as many months that the Commission rejected an attempt by a handful of opponents to revoke the permit issued to the project in November 2007. The Commission has now voted five times since 2007 to affirm its support for the Carlsbad Desalination Project.

Numerous supporters testified and/or submitted letters on behalf of the project, including the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which refuted opponents’ claims that Poseidon intentionally misrepresented and/or omitted material information from the Commission when it approved the Energy Minimization and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan in August 2008.

“Poseidon would like to thank the members of the Coastal Commission for rejecting yet another frivolous attempt to obstruct the ongoing construction of the Carlsbad Desalination Project,” said Poseidon Resources’ Vice President Scott Maloni. “We are also grateful to the California Air Resources Board for acknowledging our unprecedented and voluntary commitment to make the desalination project the first large-scale infrastructure project in the state to be net carbon neutral,” said Maloni.

The permit revocation request marked the tenth legal challenge brought against the desalination project by a small handful of seawater desalination opponents led by environmental litigator Marco Gonzalez. All legal challenges heard to date have been dismissed.

“We hope opponents will reconsider their choice to obstruct the project’s inevitable startup and instead opt to work with us in a constructive manner to ensure the project reaches its promise as the most technologically advanced, energy efficient and environmentally-friendly seawater desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere,” said Maloni.

Since 1998, Poseidon has worked in partnership with the City of Carlsbad, Valley Center Municipal Water District, Sweetwater Authority, Santa Fe Irrigation District, City of Oceanside, Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, Rainbow Municipal Water District and the Vallecitos Water District to build the desalination plant, which will have the capacity to produce 50-million-gallons-per-day of high quality drinking water and serve 300,000 residents annually. Phase I of project construction started in November 2009. During the two and half-year construction and start up, the project will create 2,100 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic stimulus. The facility is scheduled to be operational in 2012.

Poseidon Resources specializes in developing and financing water infrastructure projects, primarily seawater desalination and water treatment plants. These projects are implemented through innovative public-private partnerships in which private enterprise assumes the developmental and financial risks. For more information on Poseidon Resources and the Carlsbad desalination plant visit our website at www.carlsbad-desal.com.“

February 10, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Carlsbad desalination project survives revocation attempt

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 10, 2010 at 4:28 pm

From Groksurf’s San Diego:

“The California Coastal Commission voted 8-4 today against a motion to revoke the approval for the Carlsbad Desalination Plant.

At issue was whether the commission had earlier been misled about whether and how the project would be “carbon neutral.” Proponents of revocation said that Poseiden Resources misled the commission into believing that Metropolitan Water District (MWD) would reduce its imports from the State Water Project (SWP) although later information revealed MWD would NOT reduce its imports. … “

February 10, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Carlsbad desalination plant faces another revocation hearing

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 10, 2010 at 7:43 am

From KPBS:

“SAN DIEGO — Opponents of a desalination plant in Carlsbad want a state agency to revoke the project’s coastal development permit. A hearing on the revocation request starts Wednesday morning in Oceanside.

The desalination project is located at the Encina Power Station in the City of Carlsbad.

It’s the second time in as many months that opponents of the desalination project have asked the California Coastal Commission to revoke the plant’s coastal development permit. The first request was rejected by the commission.

Marco Gonzalez with the Encinitas-based Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation said Poseidon Resources did not submit certain facts about how the plant would offset greenhouse gas emissions. … “

Coastal Commission Staff recommends denial of request to revoke Carlsbad desalination project permit; California Air Resources Board opposes efforts to revisit project’s GHG plan

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 9, 2010 at 5:55 am

From Poseidon Resources, this media statement:

“San Diego – Poseidon Resources today announced that California Coastal Commission staff has recommended that the Commission deny the request made by opponents of seawater desalination to revoke the Coastal Development Permit for the Carlsbad Desalination Project. The Commission is scheduled to hear the revocation request when it meets in Oceanside, CA on Wednesday, February 10th.

Today, the Coastal Commission also received a letter [attached] from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Chairman Mary Nichols expressing the agency’s continued support for Poseidon’s Energy Minimization and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan (“GHG Plan”). CARB’s letter concludes that there is no new information that would require the Coastal Commission to revisit the GHG Plan. The letter also refutes claims made by opponents that Poseidon intentionally withheld information from the Commission when it approved the GHG Plan in August 2008.

This is the second time opponents have petitioned the Coastal Commission to revoke the development permit that was issued to the desalination project in November 2007. The first revocation request was rejected by a super majority of the Coastal Commission in December 2009.

Read more

February 9, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Poseidon Resources requests State Attorney General to enforce Coastal Commission regulations: California Environmental Rights Foundation violating Coastal Act regulations

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 6, 2010 at 12:43 pm

From Poseidon Resources:

“San Diego – Poseidon Resources today announced they have petitioned [see attached letter] the state Attorney General and the California Coastal Commission challenging the legal standing of the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation (CERF), an opponent of seawater desalination that has twice initiated proceedings to revoke the Coastal Development Permit issued to the Carlsbad Desalination Project.

Poseidon has requested the Coastal Commission Chief Counsel and the State Attorney General dismiss CERF as a participant in the Coastal Commission’s permit revocation hearing on February 10. This is the second time in as many months that CERF and other opponents of seawater desalination have requested that the Coastal Commission revoke the permit issued to the desalination project in November 2007. The first revocation request was rejected by a super majority of the Commission.

Coastal Commission regulations only allow revocation requests to be initiated by “person(s) who did not have an opportunity to fully participate in the original permit proceeding …” (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 13106). CERF is a newly created environmental litigation organization first registered as a business in the state of California on October 17, 2008. Because CERF did not exist at the time of the original Coastal Development Permit hearing on November 15, 2007, they cannot now participate as a party to the revocation request. CERF’s participation is a violation of Poseidon’s procedural due process rights under the Coastal Act. Poseidon had previously requested the Coastal Commission dismiss CERF as a party to the first revocation request but the Commission did not address the issue at that time. Consequently, Poseidon has now asked the state Attorney General to engage the Costal Commission’s legal counsel.

“Project opponents, led by Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation litigator Marco Gonzalez, have a lengthy history of filing frivolous legal challenges against the Carlsbad Desalination Project,” said Poseidon Resources’ Vice President Scott Maloni. “CERF does not have the legal authority to initiate and participate in Coastal Commission permit revocation proceedings. CERF’s actions are an abuse of the Coastal Commission’s process and a violation of Poseidon’s procedural due process rights. We are requesting that the Coastal Commission enforce their own regulations and remove CERF as a party to the revocation proceedings prior to the February 10 hearing,” said Maloni.

Poseidon has worked in partnership with the City of Carlsbad since 1998 to build the desalination plant, which will have the capacity to produce 50-million-gallons-per-day of high quality drinking water. Once operational, the Carlsbad Desalination Project will provide enough drinking water to serve 300,000 residents annually. The facility is scheduled to begin construction in 2010 and be operational in 2012.

READ THE LETTER HERE: Letter – CERF Legal Standing 020310 (2)

Poseidon Resources specializes in developing and financing water infrastructure projects, primarily seawater desalination and water treatment plants. These projects are implemented through innovative public-private partnerships in which private enterprise assumes the developmental and financial risks. For more information on Poseidon Resources and the Carlsbad desalination plant visit our website at www.carlsbad-desal.com.“

February 6, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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South Orange County desalination takes next step

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 5, 2010 at 6:44 am

From the O. C. Register:

“A desalination project that could improve water supplies in South County communities by converting ocean water is moving to the next stage of testing.

The Municipal Water District of Orange County announced Wednesday that it has awarded a $1.05 million contract to Separation Processes Inc. for Phase 3 of the South Orange Coastal Ocean Desalination Project at San Juan Creek.

Municipal Water District is partnering with San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, South Coast Water District, Laguna Beach County Water District and Moulton Niguel Water District to try to create a stable new water source to improve supply reliability for all the partners. Currently, South County cities rely heavily on imported water, making them vulnerable to water shortages or reductions in allocations. … “

February 5, 2010 · Filed Under Desalination

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Poseidon Resources’ Carlsbad desalination project reaches financing milestone

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 28, 2010 at 6:34 am

From Poseidon Resources, this media statement:

“San Diego — Poseidon Resources today announced the California Debt Limitation Allocation Committee (“CDLAC”) has voted unanimously (3-0) to allocate $530 million in Private Activity Bonds (“PABs”) to the Carlsbad Desalination Project. CDLAC administers and allocates the state’s annual allocation of federal tax-exempt PABs for the financing of certain private development projects that benefit the public.

The allocation of PABs to the Carlsbad Desalination Project should lower the project’s debt service costs, which in turn will allow Poseidon’s public water agency customers to purchase water at a lower rate.

Every year, hundreds of private developers apply to CDLAC to utilize this financing structure. Since 2005, CDLAC has allocated billions of dollars in PABs to privately-owned companies in California. Projects have included industrial development, redevelopment projects, enterprise zones, facilities that treat water, sewage or hazardous materials, pollution control, solid waste reduction projects and low income multi-family housing.

Unlike municipal bonds that also carry a tax exempt status, Poseidon will solely be at risk to pay the principal and interest on the PABs. The state of California and the project’s public water agency customers bear no financial responsibility for the repayment of the bonds.

“Today’s action by the California Debt Limitation Allocation Committee is a major milestone in the financing for the Carlsbad Desalination Project. The allocation of Private Activity Bonds should allow Poseidon Resources to lower the cost of this new drinking water supply for San Diego’s ratepayers,” said Poseidon Resources’ Senior Vice President Peter MacLaggan. “The allocation of Private Activity Bonds clears the way for Poseidon to close project financing and move forward with full-scale construction of the plant,” said MacLaggan.

Poseidon has worked in partnership with the City of Carlsbad, Valley Center Municipal Water District, Sweetwater Authority, Santa Fe Irrigation District, City of Oceanside, Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, Rainbow Municipal Water District and the Vallecitos Water District to build the desalination plant, which will have the capacity to produce 50-million-gallons-per-day of high quality drinking water and serve 300,000 residents annually. Phase I of project construction started in November 2009. During the two and half-year construction and start up, the project will create 2,100 jobs and approximately $200 million in economic stimulus. The facility is scheduled to be operational in 2012.

Poseidon Resources specializes in developing and financing water infrastructure projects, primarily seawater desalination and water treatment plants. These projects are implemented through innovative public-private partnerships in which private enterprise assumes the developmental and financial risks. For more information on Poseidon Resources and the Carlsbad desalination plant visit our website at www.carlsbad-desal.com.

This story was reported in the papers: click here for coverage from the San Diego Daily Transcript; click here for coverage from the North County Times.

January 28, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Arizona water official: Desalination an expensive but necessary prospect

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 26, 2010 at 6:01 am

From Arizona Capitol Times:

“Desalinating ocean water is an expensive prospect but something Arizona must look toward in addressing population growth and increasingly dry weather brought on by climate change, a state official told lawmakers Jan. 21.

“As we plan for the future, we must plan for the eventuality that we must look at these kinds of future water supplies for parts of our state,” said Karen Smith, deputy director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

She addressed the House Water and Agriculture Committee, which later approved a bill to continue the agency.

Smith said officials are looking, among other options, at partnerships with states to fund desalination plants in California or Mexico under agreements that would allow Arizona and its partners to draw more water from the Colorado River.

She said officials also are looking at desalinating brackish water in aquifers to help assure long-term water supplies. That becomes more feasible as desalination becomes more affordable, but Smith said she doesn’t want to appear overly optimistic about the ease of developing new sources of water. … “

January 26, 2010 · Filed Under Colorado River Basin, Desalination

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NanoH2O to change the economics of desalination; “It all comes down to the performance of the membrane”

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 20, 2010 at 7:47 am

From GreenTech Media:

“There is a looming water crisis for everyone on the globe as populations rise, as pollution increases and as climate and weather patterns change. There is already a water crisis in many developing nations and in some not-so-developing regions like Australia and California. The stats for “embedded” or “virtual” water are sobering — for example, the production of 1 kilogram of beef costs 15,500 liters of water

Desalination is one way of addressing some of our water problems. Desalination can be accomplished with a number of expensive, energy-intensive technologies including distillation, ion-exchange and reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a well-established desalination technology but the challenge is the sheer amount of energy consumed in the process. The key to the economics of the reverse osmosis process is the membrane.

NanoH20, a well-funded water start-up is commercializing a new membrane material for reverse osmosis based on technology developed by UCLA’s Eric Hoek. … ”

January 20, 2010 · Filed Under Desalination

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Congressional Research Service: Desalination – status and federal issues

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 19, 2010 at 2:42 pm

From the Congressional Research Service:

“In the United States, desalination is increasingly investigated as an option for meeting municipal water demands, particularly for coastal communities that can desalinate seawater or estuarine water, interior communities above brackish groundwater aquifers, and communities with contaminated water supplies.

Adoption of desalination, however, remains constrained by financial, environmental, regulatory, and other factors. At issue is what role Congress establishes for the federal government in desalination research and development, and in construction and operational costs of desalination demonstration projects and full-scale facilities.

Desalination processes generally treat seawater or brackish water to produce a stream of freshwater, and a separate, saltier stream of water that has to be disposed (often called waste concentrate). Desalination’s attractions are that it can create a new source of freshwater from otherwise unusable waters, and that this source may be more dependable than freshwater sources that rely on annual or multi-year precipitation, runoff, and recharge rates. Many states (most notably Florida, California, and Texas) and cities are actively researching and investigating the feasibility of large-scale desalination plants for municipal water supplies.

Desalination and its different applications, however, come with their own sets of risks and concerns. Although the costs of desalination dropped steadily in recent decades, making it more competitive with other water supply augmentation options, the declining trend may not continue if energy costs rise.

Electricity expenses vary from one-third to one-half of the operating cost of desalination facilities. Reducing the energy requirements of desalination would decrease its cost uncertainties. Substantial uncertainty also remains about the technology’s environmental impacts, in particular management of the saline waste concentrate and the effect of intake facilities on aquatic organisms. Moreover, there are few federal health and environmental guidelines,
regulations, and policies specific to desalination as a municipal water supply source. Social acceptance and regulatory processes also affect desalination’s adoption and perceived risks.

Research and public education may help to resolve some uncertainties, develop methods to mitigate impacts, reduce the costs of desalination, and improve public understanding of the risks. To date, the federal government has been involved primarily in desalination research and development (including military applications), some demonstration projects, and select full-scale
facilities. For the most part, local governments, sometimes with state-level involvement, have been responsible for planning, testing, building, and operating desalination facilities, similar to their responsibility for freshwater treatment for municipal drinking water supply.

Bills in the 111th Congress (e.g., H.R. 88, H.R. 469, S. 1462, S. 1731, S. 1733, and P.L. 111-11) represent a range of federal authorizations for desalination research, demonstration and full-scale facilities, and
planning and financing. H.R. 1145 would formally establish a federal interagency committee to coordinate federal water research, including desalination research.”

Read this report from the Congressional Research Service by clicking here.

January 19, 2010 · Filed Under Desalination

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Rebuttal commentary: Desal plant foes not ‘fringe’

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 17, 2010 at 6:30 am

From the North County Times, this rebuttal commentary by Joe Geever of the Surfrider Foundation to a recent commentary by Ted Owen of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce:

“The Perspective article, “Enough is enough with desalination lawsuits,” written by Ted Owens and published in your paper Jan. 10 contains enough offensive inaccuracies that it demands a response. It is unfortunate that Mr. Owen, rather than focusing his comments on what he sees as merits of the Poseidon proposal, or the actual reasons why the project continues to be scrutinized and challenged by our state regulatory agencies, instead resorts to personal attacks.

It is completely inaccurate to characterize the scope of opposition to the project as “two fringe environmental groups.” Surfrider Foundation and San Diego Coastkeeper are local grassroots organizations that have taken a lead in challenging this proposal. But there is a growing coalition of organizations opposed to this poorly designed facility —- ranging from water management policy institutions to organizations representing the fishing community to groups protecting public health to environmental organizations like ours. The scope of concerns over this project, and the organizations opposing it can hardly be described as “fringe”.

Mr. Owen also characterizes us as “obstructionists” who are the cause of delays in the project’s final approval. … “

January 17, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Initiative process starts to get a Marin vote on desalination

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 16, 2010 at 7:51 am

From the Silicon Valley Mercury News:

“An initiative to require a vote before the Marin Municipal Water District moves forward with desalination plans could come before voters in November if enough signatures are gathered by June.

A group of residents led by Bill Rothman of Belvedere plans to gather about 11,000 signatures – the required 10 percent of registered voters inside the water district’s boundaries – by June to get “The Marin Responsible Water Policy Ballot Initiative” before voters.

The initiative will ask if residents want to require the district to ask voters for permission before it proceeds with plans to implement desalination, a process in which bay water is cleaned and used for drinking water.

“It will give the voters the right to vote before the water district undertakes the expenses and the process of desalination,” Rothman said. “It would mean if they want to move forward with desalination they would have to put it before the voters.”

Rothman began gathering signatures this week. … “

January 16, 2010 · Filed Under Marin desalination plant

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Desalination should be a last resort in our water portfolio, says commentary

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 15, 2010 at 6:39 am

From the San Diego News Network, this commentary by Stuart Reznick, Executive Director of Coastkeeper, in response to the recent Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Ted Owen’s commentary:

“Environmental groups challenging the Carlsbad Desalination Plant have recently come under attack for deeply scrutinizing the project, proposed as the region’s most expensive and energy intensive water supply option. As one of the environmental groups leading the charge, we’re clearing the air.

Truth Number 1: Our cases have merit.

Procedural deficiencies at every reviewing agency have marred the approval process for the plant. While some suggest we are engaging in superfluous lawsuits, this desalination plant will be the largest in the western hemisphere and may set precedent for all other projects. We must ensure it is as protective of our environment as possible. Yet, our regulatory agencies have taken an “approve first, ask questions later” approach that could lead to disastrous consequences.

Our efforts, and those of our partner organizations, have already improved the project dramatically by ensuring carbon offsets and wetlands mitigation to offset some impacts from the proposed project. … “

January 15, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Desal and “carbon”ated water: Coastal Commission should make the Carlsbad project offset all of its carbon impacts

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 11, 2010 at 7:52 am

From the California Progress Report, this commentary by Jonas Minton of the Planning & Conservation League:

“Carbon emissions and water supply are two sides of the same coin. In California nearly 20 percent of our electrical energy is used to move water around the State, treat it for use and then treat it again for disposal.

All of that energy generation emits huge amounts of carbon to our atmosphere. So when Poseidon Corporation claims that its proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad will have a “zero carbon footprint” it may sound too good to be true. Well, that’s because it is.

In February the Coastal Commission will be reviewing the accuracy of information submitted by Poseidon for its permit to build the largest desalination facility in the Western Hemisphere in Carlsbad, California. The issue is Poseidon’s claimed CO2 offsets.

Ocean desalination is the most energy/carbon intensive way to provide water – even more than pumping water more than 400 miles all the way from Northern California, up over the Tehachapi Mountains and on to San Diego. Poseidon’s proposed ocean desalination plant would require 30 megawatts of generation. Producing this much energy would emit an additional 120,000 to 154,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year into our atmosphere. … “

January 11, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Carlsbad legal challenge loses Surfrider Foundation

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 11, 2010 at 7:49 am

From Desalination & Water Reuse:

“One of the two groups staging a last-ditch challenge to the Carlsbad desalination plant, Surfrider Foundation, has abandoned its legal challenge to the California State Lands Commission’s approval of the project.

In August, the San Diego Superior Court issued a final ruling upholding the State Lands Commission’s 2008 approval of the Project. The Surfrider Foundation and Coastkeeper jointly filed an appeal against the Court’s ruling in December 2009.

Coastkeeper remains the only appellant. … “

January 11, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Enough is enough with desalination lawsuits, says commentary

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 10, 2010 at 7:28 am

From the North County Times, this commentary by Ted Owen from the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce:

“As 2009 ended, the latest attempt to derail the Carlsbad Desalination Plant was rejected by the Coastal Commission. The celebration was short-lived, as two fringe environmental groups, undaunted by yet another defeat, kept up their assault on the project by filing yet another request that the Commission revoke the permit granted to Poseidon Resources in 2007.

For those of you keeping score, that’s five lawsuits and another five permit appeals spearheaded by lawyers representing the Surfrider Foundation and Coastkeeper. To date, these challenges have been rejected. In fact, during the last six years, every permitting and regulatory agency has approved this desalination facility and every court petitioned to overturn the approvals has declined to do so.

A recent public opinion survey conducted by the San Diego County Water Authority showed that a whopping nine out of 10 county residents support seawater desalination, and every state and federal elected official from San Diego County has endorsed the project. No matter what your opinion of the project is after all these years, there is no doubt that it is supported by sound science and the law. With construction of the project under way, environmental extremists have no chance of stopping the desalination facility from being built.

So why do they keep up their antics? Because these obstructionists hope to delay this new water supply and add so much cost that Poseidon will eventually be forced to abandon the project. This is foolish. … “

January 10, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Surfrider Foundation abandons lawsuit challenging Carlsbad desalination project

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 9, 2010 at 8:23 am

From Poseidon Resources, this media statement:

“San Diego, CA – Poseidon Resources today announced it has been notified by the Surfrider Foundation that the organization has abandoned its legal challenge to the State Lands Commission’s approval of the Carlsbad Desalination Project (Project). In August, the San Diego Superior Court issued a final ruling upholding the State Lands Commission’s 2008 approval of the Project. The Surfrider Foundation and Coastkeeper jointly filed an appeal of the Court’s ruling this past December.

The San Diego chapters of the Surfrider Foundation and Coastkeeper have an extensive and unsuccessful history of filing legal challenges (five lawsuits) and appealing Project permit approvals (five permit appeals). The Surfrider Foundation’s decision to abandon its legal opposition leaves Coastkeeper holding out as the sole Project litigant.

“Poseidon Resources and our public water agency customers appreciate the Surfrider Foundation’s decision to put an end to its legal challenges to the Carlsbad Desalination Project,” said Poseidon Resources’ Vice President Scott Maloni. “In doing so, Surfrider has chosen to abide by numerous court rulings and to accept the unwavering determination by the state’s regulatory agencies that the Project is environmentally benign,” said Maloni. “We urge Coastkeeper to follow the Surfrider Foundation’s lead and put the interests of the San Diego region first,” said Maloni.

Poseidon has worked in partnership with the City of Carlsbad since 1998 to build the desalination plant, which will have the capacity to produce 50-million-gallons-per-day of high quality drinking water and serve 300,000 residents annually. Phase one of Project construction started in November 2009. Once operational, the Carlsbad Desalination Project will provide enough drinking water to serve 300,000 residents annually. The facility is scheduled to be operational in 2012.

Poseidon Resources specializes in developing and financing water infrastructure projects, primarily seawater desalination and water treatment plants. These projects are implemented through innovative public-private partnerships in which private enterprise assumes the developmental and financial risks. For more information on Poseidon Resources and the Carlsbad desalination plant visit our website at www.carlsbad-desal.com.

January 9, 2010 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Monterey desalination plant moves forward: Desalinated water could come to the Monterey coast of California “as soon as 2012″, according to the Marina Coast Water District

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 8, 2010 at 7:11 am

From Desalination & Water Reuse:

“The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) certified the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Coastal Water Project on 17 December 2009.

The Coastal Water Project would consist of several distinct components: a seawater intake system; a desalination plant; a brine discharge system; product water conveyance pipelines and storage facilities; and an aquifer storage and recovery system.

CPUC and its administrative law judge assigned to the Coastal Water Project application are expected to consider adoption of components of the Coastal Water Project early in 2010. Simultaneously, the partners in a local publicly owned alternative (the Monterey Regional Water Supply Project) will consider the components for adoption on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) using the final EIR as a basis for their deliberations. … “

January 8, 2010 · Filed Under Desalination

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Green Prophet blog: Mekorot’s Water Tech makes a splash in California’s dry valley

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 27, 2009 at 7:11 am

From the Green Prophet blog:

“It is almost mind-boggling that Israel, a country with such a dearth of fresh water resources, has become a leader in water technologies. That is, until you learn about Mekorot.

Most of Israel’s $1.4 billion in water tech exports last year wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the government-owned water carrier and water tech company, chairman Eli Ronen tells ISRAEL21c. Mekorot transformed Israel into a global water leader by making water research and policy a national priority decades ago.

Now Mekorot’s expertise in water management, specifically in desalinating water, is on its way to south California. Ronen confirms that Mekorot has signed an MOU with Water Solutions Technologies (WST) of Fresno, California.

The company’s activities in California will extend to water-poor areas such as Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley and other regions like it. The contract between Mekorot and WST was signed at the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center where Ronen recently lectured to about 800 people about Israel’s water solutions. … “

December 27, 2009 · Filed Under Desalination

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Appeal filed against Carlsbad desalination ruling

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 24, 2009 at 6:08 am

From the San Diego Union Tribune:

“Environmental groups that oppose an ocean-water desalination plant in Carlsbad have appealed a San Diego Superior Court ruling that favors plant development.

San Diego Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation filed an appeal this month of a November ruling that allows developer Poseidon Resources to build the 50 million-gallon-a-day plant on the south shore of Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

The lawsuit challenges a lease granted for plant development by the California State Lands Commission, which has jurisdiction over state tidelands. … “

December 24, 2009 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Environmental groups appeal Carlsbad desal plant approval

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 22, 2009 at 2:30 pm

From the San Diego News Network:

“Two environmental groups are appealing the California State Lands Commission’s approval of a desalination plant already under construction in Carlsbad, it was announced Tuesday.

San Diego Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation argue the State Lands Commission’s 2008 approval did not take into consideration changes to the project that necessitate further environmental review.

“We are not opposed to desalination,” said Gabriel Solmer, an attorney for Coastkeeper. “We are for responsible water supply choices, and the State Lands’ approval was not made responsibly or legally.” … “

December 22, 2009 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Road-map to desalination: Leader of Army Corps of Engineers partnership with Cambria district on desalination plant gives his report

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 20, 2009 at 7:39 am

From the San Luis Obispo Tribune:

“With all the dispatch and efficiency one might expect from a ranking military officer, the commander of the Los Angeles District of the Army Corps of Engineers spelled out for Cambria Community Services District directors on Monday, Dec. 14, a road-map to a desalination plant to buttress Cambria’s water supply.

Engineer Col. Thomas Magness focused on the upcoming year of studies to determine if the mouth of Santa Rosa Creek is suitable as the site for under-surface intakes for seawater that would be piped to the plant, but his report included an outline of longer-term plans.

Cambria’s services district’s desalination plan “is possible,” Magness said. “What we need to determine is if it’s feasible given the constraints, the environment, the financing.” … “

December 20, 2009 · Filed Under Desalination

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California panel addresses desal and threats to marine life

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 18, 2009 at 6:39 am

From the San Diego News Network, this commentary by Bruce Reznik, executive director of the San Diego Coastkeeper (not to be confused with Stewart Resnick, who appears in other news today):

“San Diego recently hosted the California Ocean Protection Council (COPC), a committee we haven’t seen in this region since 2005. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger created the COPC to regulate ocean health in California, and the commissioners represent the state’s leading elected and appointed officials. As the executive director of San Diego Coastkeeper, the county’s largest water quality non-profit, I was pleased to see the Council include panels addressing both the desalination issue as well as the growing threats from marine trash.

The desalination discussion, which included a distinguished panel of experts, focused on understanding the role of desalination in California’s future water supply. It is no surprise that Coastkeeper takes issue with the Poseidon plant planned for Carlsbad. But I agree with several of the COPC experts who advocated for the desalination dialogue to take place as part of a holistic and cohesive discussion that will define our water supply goals, vision and strategy for a diversified portfolio. The issue is not a yes or no vote for desalination, rather a conversation regarding conservation and water reuse as our first steps and environmentally friendly desalination in appropriate locations as a last option. … “

December 18, 2009 · Filed Under Desalination

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Poseidon’s Huntington Beach desalination plant gaining support

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 16, 2009 at 8:12 am

From the O. C. Register:

“HUNTINGTON BEACH – Poseidon Resources has gained support from Orange County cities and water districts for its $350 million project that would convert seawater into drinking water to combat the drought plaguing the county.

Seal Beach City Council members on Monday voted to join a list of 14 other agencies that have signed a letter of intent to use water from the proposed desalination plant at the AES power plant on Newland Street near Pacific Coast Highway.

Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana and the Metropolitan Water District, among others, have said they are interested in buying water from Poseidon.

The project would generate about 50 million gallons of drinkable water every day by tapping in to the 275 million gallons already flowing in to the AES plant to cool its equipment, officials say. … “

December 16, 2009 · Filed Under Poseidon's Huntington Beach

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Shawn DeWane: Could seawater desalination come to Orange County?

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 16, 2009 at 8:10 am

From the O. C. Register, this commentary by Shawn DeWane, board president at Mesa Consolidated Water District:

“Seawater desalination has been discussed as a potential large scale water source since the days of Aristotle. This technology has proven itself effective over the past 20 years in applications like naval and cruise ships and in areas of the world where fresh water is scarce like Australia, Algeria and other countries.

The cost of importing water into Southern California has risen dramatically and will continue to rise for years to come. Currently, seawater desalination is more expensive than imported water. But the application of new technologies has reduced the cost of desalination by more than half. The water industry is still waiting for the break-even point where desalinated water becomes less expensive than imported water. That time is approaching. More than a dozen desalination plants are scheduled to be operational along California’s coastline over the next decade, including at least two in Orange County.

Poseidon Resources, a private water infrastructure developer, has already broken ground in San Diego County on a 50-million-gallon-per-day (MGD) seawater desalination facility that is expected to be operational in about two years. That company has been working for the past 10 years to develop a similar desalination facility in Huntington Beach to service Orange County. Poseidon’s Huntington Beach project has every local permit approval and is now focused on securing the remaining state permits needed to start construction.

I have heard many of the project’s detractors talk about Poseidon’s effort to build a desalination facility in Tampa Bay. … “

December 16, 2009 · Filed Under Poseidon's Huntington Beach

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Carlsbad desal plant moves forward despite opposition

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 15, 2009 at 7:19 am

From the San Diego News Network:

“Ten years ago, Poseidon Resources embarked on a journey to turn the ocean’s water into a usable supply for human consumption.

A myriad of lawsuits and battles later, the Carlsbad Desalination Project is now more than a month into its construction amid California’s water crisis — and not only are San Diegans awaiting for the plant’s faucet to turn on, but Americans are anticipating the largest desalination project in U.S. history.

“It’s an exhilarating feeling… it’s very rewarding,” said Poseidon Vice President Scott Maloni. “It’s a verification of all the sound science and expert engineering we’ve worked on the past ten years.”

Poseidon’s Carlsbad Desalination Project, which will be the largest in the country in less than three years, has faced major criticism among groups such as the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation, and most recently, from the San Diego Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation. … “

December 15, 2009 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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Commentary: Coastal Commission wearies of Poseidon ocean desalination plan; $530 million in public subsidized funding is next hurdle

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 14, 2009 at 6:31 am

From the California Progress Report, this commentary by Joe Geever of the Surfrider Foundation:

“Yesterday, after hours of deliberation the California Coastal Commission voted to reject a request by public-interest groups to revoke a permit for the largest desalination plant in the western Hemisphere in Carlsbad.

The groups had brought the revocation request after it was revealed that Poseidon Resources submitted incorrect environmental impact data – drastically underestimating the amount of marine life that would be killed by the plant. After the vote Commission staff disclosed new allegations of wrongdoing related to the plants greenhouse gas emissions.

One Commissioner, who voted against revoking the permit this time, commented that the repeated disclosure of misleading information from Poseidon was having a “cumulative effect.” “It’s like a rain of new problems,” according to Commissioner Burke – signaling what may be a sense of weariness by the Commission over the project’s proponent’s lack of accurate disclosures. … “

December 14, 2009 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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