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FINAL REPORT Evaluation of Seawater Desalination Projects ...

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EVALUATION OF SEAWATER DESALINATION PROJECTS<br />

PROPOSED FOR THE MONTEREY PENINSULA<br />

are needed to determine the adequacy <strong>of</strong> using horizontal directionally drilled wells for brine<br />

disposal.<br />

An underwater video obtained on the National Refractories outfall shows that some <strong>of</strong> the<br />

joints have failed and many <strong>of</strong> the diffusers are clogged. Repairs can be made, however, and<br />

the outfall could be put back into service. Use <strong>of</strong> the MRWPCA outfall could be<br />

accomplished but additional studies will need to be done to determine how to manage<br />

seasonal flow variations.<br />

The biggest issues with the waste stream fate are institutional constraints that are discussed in<br />

more detail in Section 7. There are long-term issues associated with one-pass or OTC power<br />

plants, ocean water cooling systems, and the impact <strong>of</strong> concentrated seawater brine<br />

discharges to the ocean environment.<br />

CWP proponents have produced the most comprehensive supporting documentation <strong>of</strong> the<br />

four projects. The CWP is the only project for which an environmental document beyond the<br />

draft level has been completed. A document known as the Proponents Environmental<br />

Assessment (PEA) was completed for the CWP in accordance with California Public Utilities<br />

Commission (CPUC) regulations. An administrative Draft Environmental Impact Report<br />

(EIR) has been prepared for the SCDP in accordance with the California Environmental<br />

Quality Act (CEQA), and the CPUC is currently preparing a Draft EIR for the CWP. CEQA<br />

documents have not been initiated for either the MBRSDP or the SDV. The CWP has a<br />

number <strong>of</strong> site-specific studies that appear to have been useful in the preparation <strong>of</strong> its<br />

supporting construction cost information and provide a solid foundation for any future design<br />

work.<br />

The MBRSDP has the most comprehensive information for its pilot plant. A permit for the<br />

pilot plant has been obtained from Monterey County, but an additional permit is required<br />

from the Coastal Commission. Once the Coastal Commission permit is obtained<br />

Pajaro/Sunny Mesa will be able to proceed with construction and testing. The MBRSDP is<br />

also the only one <strong>of</strong> the four projects that has an agreement for siting its proposed treatment<br />

plant.<br />

The SCDP has been developed conceptually but has not yet determined the location <strong>of</strong> the<br />

desalination facility or treated water pipeline alignment. Additional technical work on the<br />

use <strong>of</strong> the MRWPCA outfall is also necessary to determine what seasonal storage<br />

requirements would be needed.<br />

Information regarding the SDV was provided through a variety <strong>of</strong> documents mostly<br />

provided to the project team as confidential under a non-disclosure agreement. Price bids for<br />

ship purchase, retr<strong>of</strong>itting, and power generation were included. The information as a whole<br />

is considered preliminary, and has been updated several times by project proponents over the<br />

course <strong>of</strong> this study..<br />

Monterey Peninsula Water Management District 3-2

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