Regional Seawater Desalination Program Website

The City of Santa Cruz Water Department (SCWD) and Soquel Creek Water District (SqCWD) have been collaborating to conserve, protect and create reliable water resources. Both have already implemented numerous stringent conservation and curtailment requirements to maximize efficient water use, but the region needs a reliable supplemental water source that will provide needed supply during droughts and protect groundwater aquifers from seawater intrusion.

Components of Integrated Water Plan

After over 20 years of multiple studies and scores of public meetings, SCWD and SqCWD have identified desalination as the best option for delivering this flexible and reliable supplemental water source. To take advantage of the benefits derived from a cooperative facility, SCWD and SqCWD have joined together to address their different needs and share the costs associated with evaluating the proposed project. This program is currently in an Environmental Review process evaluating the potential for a 2.5 million gallon per day desalination facility in Santa Cruz. No decision has yet been made on the actual construction of the proposed project.

What about...?

To learn more about what has already been considered or is currently being evaluated, please click on the links below: