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Ocean Standards
desalination facilities and brine disposal
State Water Board staff is developing an amendment to the Ocean Plan that would address issues associated with desalinization facilities and the disposal of brine discharges from other sources. Desalination facilities and brine disposal was discussed as Issue No. 4 in the 2011-2013 Triennial Review Workplan. The issue has been identified as very high priority for the State Water Board to address, because several new desalination facilities have been planned along the California coast to augment existing potable water supplies.
During the process of ocean desalination, salt and minerals are removed from salt water to produce fresh water. Other projects, such as brackish groundwater desalination and wastewater treatment/recycling, also generate brine discharges. The salt, minerals, and other compounds are discharged as hyper-saline brine. Brine is denser than the receiving ocean water and, depending on discharge methods, may settle on the ocean bottom. Accumulation of brine on the seafloor may have an adverse effect on marine organisms.
Currently, the Water Boards regulate brine discharges from these types of facilities through the issuance of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits that contain conditions protective of aquatic life. However, the Ocean Plan does not yet have an objective for elevated salinity levels in the ocean, nor does it describe how brine discharges are to be regulated and controlled, leading to permitting uncertainty. The Ocean Plan also does not address possible impacts to marine life from intakes for desalination facilities.
The planned Ocean Plan amendment is currently envisioned to have the following components: 1) a “narrative” objective for salinity, 2) provisions to minimize impacts to marine life from desalination plant intakes, and 3) implementation provisions. State Water Board staff anticipates that the Ocean Plan amendment will be completed by January 2013.
News
A Public Scoping Meeting for Proposed Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plans for Ocean Waters and Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California, to address dealination facilities and brine disposal is planned for March 30, 2012.
The Expert Review Panel on Intake Impacts and Mitigation will discuss their recommendations for minimizing and mitigating intake impacts from power plants and desalination facilities at a public meeting that will be held on Thursday, March 1, 2012 from 9:30 am - 3 pm in the Seminar Room at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, located at 8272 Moss Landing Road, in Moss Landing.
Studies
As part of the development of the amendment, staff has initiated three studies to gather scientific data and get technical input and scientific recommendations on key issues.
Salinity Toxicity Studies
Researchers at the Marine Pollution Studies Laboratory at Granite Canyon will determine the tolerance of Ocean Plan test species to various concentrations of hyper-saline brine. All toxicity tests will follow the U.S. EPA methods. The results of the tests will be used to calculate no observed effect concentrations (NOECs), lowest observed effect concentrations (LOECs), and median lethal or median effects concentrations (LC50 or EC50) for each test protocol and endpoint. Toxicity tests will also be conducted using a brine effluent sample from a desalination facility.
Expert Panel on Intake Impacts and Mitigation
The State Water Board has contracted with the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory to establish an expert panel to address issues associated with minimizing and mitigating intake impacts from power plants and desalination facilities. The panel members are Dr. Michael Foster, Dr. Greg Cailliet, Dr. Jim Callaway, Dr. Pete Raimondi, and Mr. John Steinbeck. The panel met on August 8, 2011 and on November 15, 2011.
A public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 1, 2012 at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory
The focus of the meeting will be presentations from panel members on their recommendations for minimizing and mitigating intake impacts from power plants and desalination facilities. During the meeting, there will be opportunities for questions and comments from the public on the panel’s Draft Report. Updates will be given on the other two studies. If you have any questions about the meeting, please contact Michael Foster at (831) 786-8853 or Joanna Jensen at (916) 341-5582. »» Expert Review Panel on Intakes: Final Report (March 14, 2012)
Expert Panel on Fact and Effects of Brine Discharges
The State Water Board has contracted with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) to establish a panel of experts in the fields of oceanography, plume modeling, ecotoxicology, and marine ecology to answer the following questions related to brine discharge:
- What are the potential environmental impacts?
- What disposal strategies will minimize impacts from brine discharges?
- What models should be applied to predict how brine plumes will behave?
- Can cumulative water quality effects associated with multiple brine plumes be evaluated with models?
- What are appropriate monitoring strategies for brine discharges?
A public meeting was held July 5, 2011 in Sacramento to describe the project and solicit input regarding panel members and issues. A panel of experts was selected and input from the public has been posted online. The panel met several times to develop recommendations for the State Water Board. A public meeting was held on December 8-9, 2011. The panel will complete a report by March 2012.
Public Meetings
- Board Workshop - June 6, 2012
Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plans for Ocean Waters and Enclosed Bays and Estuaries to Address Desalination Facilities and Brine Disposal - CEQA Scoping Meeting - Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plans for Ocean Waters and Enclosed Bays and Estuaries to Address Desalination Facilities and Brine Disposal on March 30, 2012
- Stakeholder Meeting - April 18, 2011
- Notice - emailed on April 1, 2011
- 2011-2013 Triennial Review Workplan, Issue 4
- Comments and Response to Comments on Issue 4
- Staff Presentation
- Comments from the Coastal Commission, April 14, 2011
Questions or Comments?
Please Contact: Joanna Jensen or phone (916) 341-5582 or Dominic Gregorio or phone (916) 341-5488
