Project Facts

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND WATER RELIABILITY
… FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW

The Huntington Beach Water Desalination Facility will turn seawater into safe, reliable drinking water. Salt and other impurities are removed until it meets or exceeds local, state, and national drinking water standards. Once in service, the facility will produce 50 million gallons of desalinated water per day.

Desalination technology is used in more than 21,000 locations worldwide, and as Huntington Beach’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) states: This project is safe for the environment.

Importantly, the facility will be built at no cost to taxpayers and, in accordance with the Huntington Beach General Plan, will be located in an existing industrial-zoned area near Pacific Coast Highway.

The Huntington Beach Water Desalination Facility has received the following permits:

• Conditional Use and Coastal Development Permits—The Huntington Beach City Council approved these permits for Poseidon’s Huntington Beach Water Desalination Facility.
• Discharge Permits—The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region,
unanimously approved these necessary permits for the facility.
• Drinking Water Permit—The California Department of Health Services has granted the project a
conceptual drinking water approval. The drinking water permit is necessary to allow facility water
to enter the potable water distribution system.

Currently, the City of Huntington Beach is conducting a Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (DSEIR) to address the modification of the desalination project’s configuration to reflect the current proposed engineering, construction and operation.  The DSEIR also addresses the potential environmental impacts if, at a future date, the Huntington Beach Desalination Facility operates as a “stand-alone” facility and no longer uses the seawater discharge from the Huntington Beach Generating Station (i.e. the AES Power Plant).  The Huntington Beach City Council will consider certification of the DSEIR later this summer.

In addition to this City certification, Poseidon Resources is seeking permit approval from the State Lands Commission and the California
Coastal Commission.

If the project receives all its required permits by 2011, it could be producing drinking water for Orange County by as soon as 2013.

E-News Sign-up

  • This fresh water facility would bring millions in revenue to Orange County - money that could support schools, police and fire protection, health, welfare, and transportation.
    - Orange County Taxpayers Association
    Orange County has an opportunity to play a leadership role by planning for its future. While the fresh water facility is not the sole answer to Southern California water needs, it should definitely be included especially given the current state of California's levee system.
    - Lucy Dunn, Vice President Orange County Business Council
    The builder will spend tens of millions of dollars locally to build a water facility for the benefit of Orange county residents. Private investors will put up the money and take all financial risk. It's a win win situation.
    - Reed L. Royalty, President Orange County Taxpayers Assocition
    This facility will ease the tax burden on the rest of us, but will demand little in government services.
    - Orange County Taxpayers Association