Report on a Multi-Agency Water Desalination Agreement

1.0 Executive Summary

On August 15, officials from the city of Burbank, in collaboration with six other agencies and the desalination company OceanWell, announced a significant agreement. This partnership aims to develop a new, sustainable water source by utilizing innovative subsurface ocean water desalination technology. The project, “Water Farm 1,” is projected to be operational by 2030 and will supply 60 million gallons of fresh water daily, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Project Details and Strategic Objectives

The core of the initiative involves the deployment of advanced pumping systems one thousand feet beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean. This method is designed for minimal environmental impact while ensuring a reliable water supply.

• Technology Provider: OceanWell
• Project Name: Water Farm 1
• Projected Output: 60 million gallons per day
• Operational Target: 2030
• Agreement Structure: The city of Burbank will finance a portion of the operational pumping costs in exchange for an allocation of the desalinated water.

3.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This project is fundamentally aligned with the global agenda for sustainable development, making direct and indirect contributions to the following SDGs:

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • The project directly addresses Target 6.1 by working to ensure universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
   • It enhances water security by diversifying the region’s water portfolio, moving beyond traditional, climate-vulnerable sources.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • The initiative promotes resilient infrastructure through the development of a high-tech, climate-adaptive water system.
   • It represents a significant advancement in sustainable industrialization by employing innovative desalination technology that minimizes ecological disruption.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • By securing a drought-proof water source, the project strengthens the capacity of urban areas to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.
   • It ensures that communities have a reliable water supply, a foundational element for sustainable urban development.

4. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • The subsurface intake technology is designed to prevent the marine life impingement and entrainment issues associated with conventional coastal desalination plants, thereby conserving marine ecosystems.
   • This approach supports the sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal environments from land-based activities.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The agreement is a prime example of a multi-stakeholder partnership, bringing together public municipal agencies and a private sector technology leader.
   • This collaboration mobilizes financial resources, technology, and expertise to advance sustainable development objectives on a regional scale.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs Addressed in the Article

The article highlights issues and initiatives that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  
  This is the most prominent SDG addressed. The entire article focuses on a project to provide a new source of clean drinking water (“sipping ocean water”) for residents through desalination, directly tackling the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  
  The project involves building new, resilient infrastructure (“Water Farm 1”) and utilizing “high-tech pumps” and advanced desalination technology. This aligns with the goal of fostering innovation and developing sustainable infrastructure to support communities.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  
  By securing a new, reliable water source, the city of Burbank is enhancing its resilience to water scarcity and drought, which is a key aspect of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
  
  The project involves extracting water from the Pacific Ocean. While the article does not detail the environmental impact, any such initiative is inherently linked to the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. The method of using pumps “a thousand feet below the Pacific Ocean” implies a consideration for marine ecosystems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
  
  The article explicitly mentions a “landmark agreement with six other agencies, including Santa Monica-based desalination company OceanWell.” This collaboration between public entities (Burbank water officials) and a private company (OceanWell) is a clear example of a public-private partnership to achieve sustainable development goals.

2. Specific Targets Identified

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
  
  The project’s goal is to deliver filtered ocean water for residents by the year 2030, directly contributing to this target.
• Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
  
  The initiative is a direct response to water scarcity by creating a new, sustainable supply of freshwater from a non-traditional source.
• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.
  
  The “Water Farm 1” represents a significant investment in new, sustainable, and resilient water infrastructure designed to ensure a reliable water supply for the community.
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
  
  The project is founded on a public-private partnership, as evidenced by the “landmark agreement with six other agencies, including Santa Monica-based desalination company OceanWell.”

3. Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator for Target 6.1 and 6.4: Volume of water supplied.
  
  The article provides a specific metric: “60 million gallons generated per day.” This is a direct indicator of the additional freshwater supply that will be available to address water scarcity and provide access to clean water.
• Indicator for Target 9.1: The operational status and capacity of new infrastructure.
  
  The development and successful operation of “Water Farm 1” by the 2030 deadline serves as a key indicator of progress in building resilient infrastructure.
• Indicator for Target 17.17: Number of institutional partners in a public-private partnership.
  
  The article states the project is a result of an “agreement with six other agencies, including Santa Monica-based desalination company OceanWell,” making a total of seven partners (Burbank plus the six others). This number serves as an indicator of the scale of the partnership.

Summary Table

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: outlooknewspapers.com