Regional Water Board staff issues Tentative Order for Permit Renewal of HB Desal Project

On November 22, 2019, the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a Tentative Order to renew the operating permit, first issued in 2006, for the proposed Huntington Beach Desalination Plant.  The Regional Board staff’s proposed permit considered all requirements of the California Ocean Plan’s new desalination policy and finds that the project is compliant and will use the best available site, design, technology and mitigation measures feasible to minimize the intake and mortality of all forms of marine life.

The Tentative Order, which can be read here, supports the use of a wedgewire screen with slots that are one millimeter-wide and multiport brine diffuser as the best available and feasible seawater intake and discharge technologies.  The permit also includes Poseidon’s proposal to assume responsibility for the long-term preservation of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.
 
This past May, the long term, stand-alone operation of Poseidon’s Carlsbad plant was approved by the San Diego Regional Board, making it the first seawater desalination facility permitted under the California Ocean Plan’s new desalination policy.  The company’s Huntington Beach facility is the second proposed desalination project to receive consideration under the new regulations.
 
The Regional Board announced plans to consider adoption of the permit on March 27, 2020.  First, at 9:00 am on December 6, 2016 at Huntington Beach City Hall in the City Council Chambers, the Regional Water Board will hold a workshop to accept public comments.  If you’d like to make your voice heard, please reach out to Brian Lochrie at or you call or text him at 949-294-8269.
 
To download a printer-friendly flyer with details about when and where the workshop will be held, please click here.
 
Public comments are permitted until January 10, 2020.  If you would like to email comments supporting the Huntington Beach Desalination plant, please send them to .