Orange County’s Seawater Desalination Facility

“This facility will ease the tax burden on the rest of us, but will demand little in government services.”

- Orange County Taxpayers Association

Aerial Image of AES site today

Artist Rendering of HB Desal Facility on AES site

Poseidon Resources proposes to build a 50-million-gallon-per-day (50 MGD) seawater desalination project in Huntington Beach. This project – the Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Facility – is a cost-effective solution to provide a safe and reliable water supply to residents.  The facility, which will be built at no cost to the taxpayers, will use existing infrastructure, reducing construction costs – a major factor in making this new water source affordable. The desalination project will provide 50 million gallons of safe drinking water per day.  That’s enough water for almost 300,000 people, or about eight percent of Orange County’s total population. Currently, northern Orange Couty is dependent on water from a few shared sources – the local groundwater basin, Northern California Bay Delta and the Colorado River. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Southern California has grown by one million people in the past three years, while Southern California’s population is expected to grow by an additional 4.3 million people by the year 2020. Orange County alone will grow by an additional 500,000 people – placing an increased strain on our traditional imported water sources. The Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Facility will ensure there is a reliable local supply of high-quality water to meet demands.

Facility Map

Location

The Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Facility will be located in an existing industrially zoned area along Pacific Coast Highway at Newland Street in Huntington Beach, in accordance with the city-approved General Plan and the 1996 California Coastal Act.

Project Timing

Poseidon Resources is working with state and local agencies to ensure that proper safeguards are in place and everyone’s questions are answered. The Huntington Beach City Council approved the Coastal Development Plan, Conditional Use Permit and Owner’s Participation Agreement for the facility on February 27, 2006.  The Huntington Beach City Council will consider approving a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report this summer.  Poseidon Resources will also need to obtain permits from both State Lands Commission and the California Coastal Commission.  Once all of the permits are obtained and regulatory requirements have been achieved, construction will commence.  Construction could begin by the end of 2011, which means and the facility could be producing water as soon as 2013.

Poseidon Resources

The facility is being proposed by Poseidon Resources, a company that invests in safe water projects throughout North America. Poseidon is a leader in water resources development and offers custom solutions to local governments and businesses. More information about Poseidon can be found by visiting www.poseidonresources.com