Eleven members of the California Coastal Commission have voted against the facility Poseidon Water, a developer of water treatment plants, has been trying to build for decades.
Poseidon said the plant will be able to produce up to 50 million gallons of drinking water a day, which will help make the region more resilient to drought.
The commission, which is tasked with “protecting and improving” the state’s vast coastline, heard public comments on the project throughout the day on Thursday, with a majority of speakers opposed. Others, who expressed concern about the lack of water resources in the future, argued that additional water resources should be developed whenever possible.
Poseidon issued a statement after the vote, thanking Governor Gavin Newsom for his support and reiterating his belief that the plant would be an important tool for maintaining the state’s water supply.
“That wasn’t the solution we were hoping for today,” said Jessica Jones, Poseidon’s communications director. “California is still facing a severe drought with no end in sight … Every day we see new calls for conservation as reservoir levels fall to dangerously low levels. We firmly believe that this desalination project would create a sustainable drought … a tolerant source of water for Orange County, just as it is for San Diego County. “
But opponents of desalination argue that cheaper and less harmful conservation tactics should be the first resort.
The commission is appointed or elected by state legislators and the governor. Prior to the vote, his staff recommended against the facility, citing in part the incredible energy consumption of desalination, its impact on marine life, the projected sea level rise and the price of the resulting water itself – passing these costs on to customers.
Commission officials acknowledged in the report that its findings did not mean the project was “disapproved” or completely against desalination, saying: “Staff recognize the need to develop new, reliable water sources in Southern California and believe that planned and located desalination facilities are likely to play a role in ensuring these supplies. “
Desalination works by separating water molecules from salty seawater by reverse osmosis. Residual high salt is sent back to the ocean.
One plant of this magnitude – Claude Bud’s desalination plant Louis Carlsbad in San Diego County – is already in operation. Poseidon began operating the facility in late 2015, selling all of its products to the San Diego County Water Administration in a 30-year contract.
Scientists said earlier this year that the current mega-drought in the West is the worst in at least 1,200 years. Southern California residents are already seeing unprecedented water restrictions before summer.
Newsom expressed support for the construction of the plant, noting the prolonged droughts in California and the difficult water supply. He recently told the editorial board of the Bay Area News Group: “What more evidence do you need that you need more tools in the toolkit than we’ve experienced? Seven of the last 10 years have been severe droughts.”
But those against the desalination plant say there are other ways to combat the drought.
On its website dedicated to the fight against the Huntington Beach plant, the non-profit foundation Surfrider states that the water that the project will provide is not necessary, calling the potential plant “a waste of money.”
In fact, a study by the Pacific Institute, a water-focused think tank, found that California could significantly reduce urban water consumption by 30 to 48 percent with existing and cutting-edge technology. In a recent report, the institute said that “opportunities for water efficiency can be found across the country, but are highest in the hydrological region of the South Coast.” He cited solutions that cost very little compared to desalination, including increased wastewater recycling and rainwater capture – with about two-thirds of the region’s potential water savings coming from the housing sector.
“Desalination of seawater is one of the most expensive water supply options,” Heather Cooley, director of research at the Pacific Institute, told CNN. “From a cost, environmental, energy point of view, making these other alternatives first makes the most sense for California.”
CNN’s Taylor Romine contributed to this report.
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