
Drought Proof
Desalination is Immune to Drought
The Water Supply Project is a three-pronged approach to alleviate the region's severe water supply shortage and develop a new drought-proof water supply.
This innovative climate adaptation strategy includes the development of three new water sources for the Monterey Peninsula. It includes:
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A new desalination plant that will provide a drought-proof source of water – enough to serve approximately 18,300 households.
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An expanded aquifer storage and recovery program (ASR) to capture excess winter flows from the Carmel River and store it in the Seaside aquifer for use during the dry summer months.
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A groundwater recycling and replenishment expansion, Pure Water Monterey, that will recycle wastewater and inject highly purified drinking water into the Seaside groundwater basin.
This multi-faceted approach is drought-proof and better than a single-source solution because it adds desalination to ASR and Carmel River supplies, which are impacted in drought years, and brings the reliable, drought-proof water source needed to support community demand and allow for future growth.