Valley Water evaluating desalination project through its Water Supply Master Plan process

One of Valley Water's missions is to provide Santa Clara County with a reliable water supply.

Valley Water identifies and plans for new water supply and infrastructure investments through its Water Supply Master Plan. Our agency updates the plan every five years by assessing how much water we'll need in the future and what projects are needed to meet that demand.

We are updating the plan now. As part of the process, we are evaluating 18 water supply and infrastructure projects, including taking a closer look at a proposed desalination plant located within Santa Clara County.

Desalination is the process of removing salts from seawater or bay water through distillation or filtration to produce fresh, drinkable water. At a desalination plant, ocean or bay water is filtered to remove salts and other impurities. The materials removed from the salt water is referred to as brine and must be properly disposed of to protect the environment. Parts of California and other dry regions worldwide, such as the Middle East and Australia, use desalination.

Currently, Valley Water is evaluating the feasibility of a seawater desalination project in Santa Clara County adjacent to the San Francisco Bay. A desalination project would increase our county's water supply for current and future generations.

Valley Water recently completed the first phase of its evaluation through a preliminary environmental study. This study indicates that a desalination facility in the county may be feasible provided certain environmental issues are addressed. Specifically, these issues relate to protecting the sensitive South Bay ecosystem, including the intake of bay water, brine management, and habitat protection.

Valley Water has hired a technical consultant to conduct the study's second phase, an engineering feasibility study that will evaluate the technical feasibility, costs, and regulatory permitting requirements associated with a possible desalination project in the South Bay.

The timeline for this study is estimated at one year.

Valley Water has been researching desalination since 2015. To learn more, visit valleywater.org/your-water/water-supply-planning/desalination

The Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant in Santa Barbara, California, plays a key role in improving the city's water reliability and resiliency during drought years. This photo was taken on August 28, 2019.
Florence Low / California Department of Water Resources, A 3D rendering of converting saltwater into freshwater through a desalination plant.

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