Turning on the Tap

Officials this week unveiled the latest step in a multi-organization effort to tap into the “world’s largest reservoir,” the Pacific Ocean, for drinking water that would serve residents in San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach and Laguna Niguel.

The newest phase of the $150-million project is in a trailer at Doheny State Beach, but the simple structure hides a complex set of equipment that will suck water from beneath the sea floor, pump it through membranes and filters and make it ready for consumers to drink.

Water officials are launching an 18-month test phase that is critical to the future of the project.

“This phase gives us the information to design the plant correctly,” said Dick Dietmier, the director of South Coast Water District. “That’s the critical part of building the desal plant, to get the design right the first time.”

Ultimately, the system could supply up to 25 percent of San Clemente’s water needs. The city uses 10.5 million gallons of water a day. The vast majority of San Clemente’s water—85 to 90 percent—is imported from elsewhere, although the city does get about 7 percent of its supply from two local wells, and another 8 percent by recycling water.

But the amount of money the city is charged to bring in outside water has steadily climbed over the years, and the politics of water statewide has seen reductions in the amount available.

“It would be nice to have an additional local supply and become less reliant on imported water, especially with some of the challenges in the water supply in Northern California,” City Assistant Engineer David Rebensdorf said.

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