Monterey Bay Regional Desalination Project

The Monterey Bay region is facing a net water shortage of 49,205 m3/d (13,000 AFY) due to overdraft of the area's groundwater basins and regulatory-driven cutbacks in surface water supplies from the Carmel River. After 15 years of failed attempts to develop a water supply solution, the Monterey Bay Regional Desalination Project was developed to reclaim a combination of seawater and groundwater and produce a regional water supply solution that is the lowest cost and most environmentally sensitive option, and one which has wide-spread public support. The Project is an historic public/private partnership of Marina Coast Water District (MCWD), Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA), California American Water Company (CAW), and Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA). The 37,850 m3/d (10 mgd) reverse osmosis project includes coastal zone intake wells, brine disposal through an existing outfall, and 26,730 m (87,700 LF) of distribution piping.