Common Myths Regarding Desalination
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Myth: The desalination facility may harm marine life.
Fact: The City of Huntingotn Beach, California State Lnads Commisison and Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board have all issued permits and approvals to the Project after determining the facility will have no significant, unmitigable impact to marine life.
Myth: The desalination facility may cause pollution and noise.
Fact: The Huntington Beach Desalination Facility will be 100% carbon neutral. It will not produce any air pollution and will be as quiet as a household refrigerator at the facility property line.
Myth: The desalination facility may extend the longevity of the AES Generating Station.
Fact: The Huntington Beach Generating Station has contracts to sell power that will keep it in place until at least the year 2040. The desalination plant is not permitted by state law to purchase electricity from the AES Generating Station, which will operate independne tof the desalination facility.
Myth: Desalination uses a lot of energy and is more expensive than importing water to make this a viable facility.
Fact: The desalination plant will reduce the need to import water from Northern California, which requires a comparable amount of energy compared to the desalination facility. Furthermore, the desaliantion facility will be 100% carbon-neutral, where as imported water is not. As a result Orange County's water-related carbon footprint will be lowered when the desalination plant starts operations of the desalination plant. . With the cost of imported supplies from Northern California increasing and the reduction in our allotment from the Colorado River, desalinated water is competitively priced with any new high quality water supply.
Myth: The water will not be available to all areas in Orange County.
Fact: Any additional supply of water in Orange County will increase the reliability across the entire County by lessening demands on existing sources. The water from the desalination facility will be available to all of the water agencies throughout the County.
Myth: Poseidon Water is a multinational firm that can waive state and federal environmental laws and regulations.
Fact: Poseidon Water is a U.S. corporation incorporated in the state of Delaware and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is subject to all local, state, and federal regulations, laws and approvals required to own, build, operate and maintain the desalination facility.
Fact: The City of Huntingotn Beach, California State Lnads Commisison and Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board have all issued permits and approvals to the Project after determining the facility will have no significant, unmitigable impact to marine life.
Myth: The desalination facility may cause pollution and noise.
Fact: The Huntington Beach Desalination Facility will be 100% carbon neutral. It will not produce any air pollution and will be as quiet as a household refrigerator at the facility property line.
Myth: The desalination facility may extend the longevity of the AES Generating Station.
Fact: The Huntington Beach Generating Station has contracts to sell power that will keep it in place until at least the year 2040. The desalination plant is not permitted by state law to purchase electricity from the AES Generating Station, which will operate independne tof the desalination facility.
Myth: Desalination uses a lot of energy and is more expensive than importing water to make this a viable facility.
Fact: The desalination plant will reduce the need to import water from Northern California, which requires a comparable amount of energy compared to the desalination facility. Furthermore, the desaliantion facility will be 100% carbon-neutral, where as imported water is not. As a result Orange County's water-related carbon footprint will be lowered when the desalination plant starts operations of the desalination plant. . With the cost of imported supplies from Northern California increasing and the reduction in our allotment from the Colorado River, desalinated water is competitively priced with any new high quality water supply.
Myth: The water will not be available to all areas in Orange County.
Fact: Any additional supply of water in Orange County will increase the reliability across the entire County by lessening demands on existing sources. The water from the desalination facility will be available to all of the water agencies throughout the County.
Myth: Poseidon Water is a multinational firm that can waive state and federal environmental laws and regulations.
Fact: Poseidon Water is a U.S. corporation incorporated in the state of Delaware and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is subject to all local, state, and federal regulations, laws and approvals required to own, build, operate and maintain the desalination facility.
Myth: The desalination facility may harm marine life.
Fact: The Huntington Beach Desalination Facility is environmentally safe.
"This fresh water facility would bring millions in revenue to Huntington Beach - money that could support libraries, police and fire protection, parks and city street improvements."
~ James O'Callaghan, President and CEO, Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce