This project, entered into jointly by the four regional water systems, San Francisco Public Utilities Water Department (SFPUC), East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD), Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) and Contra Costa Water District (CCWD), will study the feasibility of constructing a seawater desalination plant. The cost of initial feasibility study will be shared equally between the parties. MOUs will be prepared for initial and subsequent phases that will address cost sharings of those phases. Parties will also look for Federal and State funding that may be available for design and construction.Phase 1 of the Prefeasibility Study has been completed. It evaluated the different sites and recommended three sites for further study. Phase II of the Prefeasibility Study will further evaluate these sites in greater detail and will look at environmental factors, transmission capability, institutional arrangements and grant funding.Funding for additional phases will be requested as the project progresses and based on recommendations of each phase of the project.

Need more information?
Contact Betsy Lauppe Rhodes at (415) 554-3240 or via email at blauppe@sfwater.org

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The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) today praised the members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate for voting overwhelmingly to override President Bush’s veto last week of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA). The national water resources, flood protection and water conservation bill authorizes $4 million to continue work on a new regional desalination project jointly supported by the SFPUC, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, the Contra Costa Water District and the Santa Clara Valley Water District.     Read more 

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