$34.4M in grants awarded for desalination projects in California
California– California’s Department of Water Resources has approved $34.4 million in grants to eight desalination projects across the state. The money comes from Proposition 1, a water bond passed by state voters in November 2014. Three projects were awarded $10 million each to help with construction. Among them is the Antioch Brackish Water Desalination Project, which is estimated to cost $62.2 million. Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant in Orange County, which would drill slant wells under the ocean floor at Dana Point, is estimated to cost $110 million. The North Pleasant Valley Desalter Project is a $32 million brackish water project in Camarillo.
The remaining grant winners received between $650,000 and $1.5 million to pay for studies and pilot projects, all in Southern California. State officials still have $58 million in Proposition 1 funds to award for desalination projects from the next round of proposals.