• Full-scale design to be based on one year's water quality results
MONTEREY, CA, Nov. 17, 2008 -- California American Water announced that the official, one-year testing period recently began at its desalination pilot plant located on the site of the Moss Landing power generation station in northern Monterey County. A renewed license agreement was signed in August with the owner of the power plant, Dynegy Inc., to operate the pilot plant, which is analyzing water quality and technical operations for final design of a full-scale, 11 million gallon per day desalination plant that California American Water proposes to construct at that site. The proposed full-scale desalination plant is intended to replace water being pumped from the Carmel River and Seaside Groundwater Basin, in response to legal directives to sharply reduce use of those existing resources due to environmental and potential seawater intrusion concerns, respectively.
After overcoming a series of permitting delays, California American Water began the desalination pilot plant operation earlier this summer, more than three years after its initial anticipated start date.
"With all of the pressure we're under to reduce pumping from the Carmel River and Seaside Basin, the importance of this start-up can't be overstated," said General Manager Craig Anthony.
The company proposed the Coastal Water Project -- a combination seawater desalination and underground storage project -- in 2004 after the state legislature ordered the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to evaluate an environmentally preferable alternative to a new dam and reservoir on the Carmel River. The CPUC approved the recommendation borne of that effort, called "Plan B," which was embraced by California American Water and named the Coastal Water Project. A draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the project is being prepared by the CPUC's energy division, and is scheduled to be released for public comment by the end of January 2009.
Construction of the pilot plant, at a cost of $2 million, was completed under budget and in advance of company estimates earlier this year, after a series of permit delays at the California Coastal Commission and the Monterey County Planning Department -- delays that were lengthened as a result of a lawsuit recently dismissed by the Monterey County superior court, following the court's earlier denial of their request to stop construction and operation of the desalination pilot testing facility.
"The data we collect at this plant will be essential to design of our Moss Landing full-scale desalination project, approval of which we hope will be considered by the California Public Utilities Commission by the middle of next year," said Coastal Water Projects Manager for California American Water, Dave Berger. "The information we are gathering will help us determine exactly what treatment processes will be most effective and efficient in terms of both water quality and energy use. And, with our desalination pilot plant on line, we are already producing water of higher quality than most forms of drinking water."
The California American Water pilot plant, which recycles intake seawater from the cooling system at the Moss Landing power station, operates around-the-clock and produces approximately 22,000 gallons of desalinated water per day. After samples are drawn for testing, the desalinated water, as well as its brine by-product, is returned to power plant's cooling system for discharge to Monterey Bay.
Testing of the desalinated water is taking place both on site and at outside laboratories. Levels of nearly 100 compounds are measured, with oversight from the California Department of Public Health and Regional Water Quality Control Board. California American Water will prepare a detailed technical report on its findings upon completion of the testing plan.
Security measures require that no media access be granted to the Moss Landing Power Plant site without a previously arranged appointment. To schedule a tour of the pilot plant, contact Catherine Bowie at: (831) 241-2990 or [email protected].
California American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water, provides high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 600,000 people.
Related Articles
-- Missouri American Water rate adjustment approved [pdf]
-- Indiana American Water adds capacity to Noblesville system [pdf]
-- Rate adjustment approved for Ohio American Water [pdf]
-- American Water's CEO named president of National Association of Water Companies
###
