Board of supervisors approves desalination water project
Update from 5th District Supervisor Debbie Arnold
Project will add additional water supply for Five Cities, Avila Beach
5th District Supervisor Debbie Arnold.
–The County Board of Supervisors recently voted unanimously to partner with Pacific Gas & Electric to develop a project that will provide up to 1,300 acre feet of desalinated water per year to the Flood Control District’s Zone 3 (which consists of the Five Cities and Avila Beach areas). PG&E currently operates an existing desalination facility adjacent to Diablo Canyon Power Plant. This project would provide an option for local water supply during times of drought to South County by constructing an approximately 7-mile pipeline to move water from the desalination plant to the Lopez/Zone 3 distribution system. I’d like to reiterate that this project is by no means a growth inducing project, rather it is considered a drought stress resiliency project.
Water supply in the South County has been an area of concern with recent analysis showing low water levels at Lopez Lake despite the recent rains. Although Lopez Lake is the area’s primary source of water supply, South County is also supplied by groundwater and the State Water Project. The desalination water project is a relatively minor amount of added infrastructure for the benefit of providing additional water supply to the Five Cities and Avila Beach areas. While the project is not an exclusive solution, it certainly is a step in the right direction.
Some of you may be wondering what would happen should the relicensing of Diablo Canyon not be renewed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Diablo Canyon is up for relicensing in 2024). Tom Jones of PG&E stated that the duration of desalination water is not linked to the operation of the facility and will continue to need desalination water through current and future operations and the decommissioning phase.
As we move into the planning phase for the project, this will consist of preparation of an Environmental Impact Report, technical engineering support, consultation with regulatory agencies , and obtaining coastal permitting. Costs associated with the project will need to be negotiated between project partners prior to the finalization of the project design and construction.
This project is one piece of the puzzle in our challenge to find resources for our community and to meet the county’s goal to ensure a safe, healthy, livable, prosperous and-well governed community.
It’s an honor to serve the 5th District.
-Debbie Arnold
