Ocean Plan Requirements for Seawater Desalination Facilities

Announcements

None at this time.

Past Outreach Events

General Scoping Meeting on Potential Amendments to Seawater Desalination Provisions

Date: Oct 28, 2024 from 1:00-4:00pm

Meeting recording and presentation are now available.

Notice – The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) accepted comments on the general scope and potential amendments to the Seawater Desalination Provisions of the Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters of California through 12:00 noon on November 13, 2024. The State Water Board's Division of Water Quality held a public scoping meeting on October 28 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

Aviso – La Junta Estatal de Control de Recursos del Agua (Junta Estatal del Agua), está aceptando comentarios sobre el alcance general y enmiendas potenciales a las Provisiones de Desalación de Agua del Mar indicadas en el Plan de Control de Calidad del Agua para Aguas del Océano de California (Proyecto Propuesto). La fecha límite para recibir comentarios es el 13 de noviembre de 2024 (12 m). El 28 de octubre (1:00 a 4:00 pm), la División de Calidad del Agua de la Junta Estatal del Agua, tendrá una reunión pública sobre el alcance del Proyecto Propuesto.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We are excited to announce the launch of our latest resource aimed at answering the most frequently asked questions! The new FAQ invites interaction through questions and answers, encouraging dialogue and exploration of the topic of seawater desalination. Click below to access the FAQ:

Frequently Asked Questions Preguntas Frecuentes

Supporting Scientific and Expert Panel Reports

Ocean Plan Chapter III.M

In May 2015, the State Water Board updated the Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters of California, also called the Ocean Plan.

The update added new requirements for seawater desalination facilities (facilities that turn seawater into freshwater). The requirements in the Ocean Plan are called Desalination Provisions, which establish statewide requirements for planning, permitting, and operating seawater desalination facilities while protecting ocean life and water quality.

What the Desalination Provisions require:
Seawater desalination facilities must use a suite of best available measures that are feasible to minimize harm to all forms of marine life. This includes careful consideration of where facilities are built, how they are designed, the technology they use, and the actions they take to reduce or offset any remaining impacts. For details, see the Ocean Plan or theFrequently Asked Questions. The Desalination Provisions generally address the following subjects:

Site is the general onshore and offshore location of the facility. A desalination facility must be built in a location that minimizes harm to marine life and habitats.
Design is the size, layout, form, and the configuration of the facility. A desalination facility must be designed to reduce harm to the environment over the entire lifetime of the facility’s operation.
Technology is the type of equipment, materials, and methods used to construct and operate the facility. A desalination facility must use specific intake and discharge technologies that reduce harm to marine life and habitats.
Mitigation is replacement of all forms of marine life or habitat lost due construction and operation of a facility. Even after using the best site, design, and technology, if the facility still harms marine life, the owners must take additional steps to offset that damage.

These rules apply across California and help regional water boards review and approve desalination projects in a consistent way.