Project Phases

Current Activities and Studies

Current and Upcoming Activities

• Environmental Review of the proposed project is underway with several studies related to the intake, facility, and energy demands.  For more information, click here.
• Energy Minimization and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study (currently being conducted)
• Intake Feasibility Study(currently being conducted)

Past Studies

There are several studies that have recently been conducted:

• Pilot Study (Completed in April 2010)
• Watershed Sanitary Survey (Completed in July 2010)
• Intake Studies:  Open Ocean Intakes Effects Study (Completed December 2010) and an offshore geophysical survey (Completed August 2010)
• Brine Dilution (Completed November 2010)

Past Outreach Activities

Community Informational Meetings in 2010: A series of community informational meetings have been scheduled throughout 2010.  For more information, click here.

Informational Meetings: Informational meeting were held on April 22 and September 24, 2009 which included presentations on the pilot plant data, the Integrated Water Plan, and the Challenges of Desalination, Energy, Environmental Review  and  Q/A Sessions. Click here and here for more information.

Monthly Public Tours of the Pilot Plant: Monthly tours of the pilot plant were led through the pilot plant during the 13-months of testing.  Approximately 15-30 people attended each of the one hour tours to learn more about desalination technology and the water supply issues for Soquel Creek Water District and City of Santa Cruz. 

AWWA Tour and Presentation:  A tour and presentation was held on April 8, 2009 for AWWA's CA/NV Spring Conference. 

Open House:  An Open House was held on November 8, 2008 for the community to tour the pilot plant, meet with the Engineers, Operators, and City/District Officials, and learn about the data collected thus far.  Approximately 150 came to the event.

Monterey Bay Water Works Association Desalination Forum:  A MBWWA event was held in October 2008 and focused on the Desalination Pilot Plant, the Integrated Water Plan, and Desalination Intake Approaches. 

Grand Opening Event:  A grand Opening Event was held in March 2008 to launch the 12-month pilot plant study.

Pilot Plant Groundbreaking:  The City of Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek Water District broke ground for construction of a seawater reverse osmosis desalination pilot test plant located at UC Santa Cruz's Long Marine Laboratory in July 2007. 

Bruce Daniels, president of Soquel Creek Water District’s Board of Directors and a member of the Task Force, stated: “Both agencies have identified desalination as the best option, in combination with water conservation and curtailment (temporary water use restrictions), to preserve groundwater supplies and deliver a flexible and reliable water source during drought periods.”

UCSC Staff have been working closely with SCWD on plans for the pilot plant, with the University providing a site for the project and access to Long Marine Lab’s seawater system. Santa Cruz City Councilmember Mike Rotkin, who also serves on the Task Force, stated: “The Seawater Desalination Pilot Test Program is part of the initial investigative stage required to evaluate issues related to public safety, environmental protection and plant operations.”

Dan Kriege, Bruce Daniels, and Ed Porter of the scwd² Desalination Task Force,
break ground at the site of the new Pilot Plant located at UC Santa Cruz’s Long Marine Laboratory.