Ringside: Large Scale Desalination Could Transform California – California Globe

Report on the Viability of Large-Scale Desalination for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in California

1.0 Introduction: Addressing Water Scarcity through SDG 6

California faces significant water security challenges, hindering progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation). This report evaluates the potential of large-scale seawater desalination as a strategic solution. While often dismissed by state policymakers, global precedents demonstrate its effectiveness. In 2024, worldwide desalination plants produced an estimated 30 million acre-feet of fresh water, indicating a mature and scalable technology capable of supporting sustainable water management.

2.0 Global Benchmarks and Infrastructure Innovation (SDG 9)

The implementation of large-scale desalination aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by leveraging advanced technology to build resilient water infrastructure. International examples underscore the feasibility of this approach.

• Shoaiba Desalination Complex, Saudi Arabia: This facility produces nearly 900,000 acre-feet of fresh water annually on a 1,200-acre footprint. A similar installation in California could supply over 12% of the state’s total urban water consumption.
• Global Capacity: The existence of numerous large-scale plants worldwide confirms that the technology is a proven method for securing a reliable water supply, contributing to sustainable communities (SDG 11).

3.0 Energy Consumption and Synergy with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

A primary concern regarding desalination is its energy consumption. However, modern processes are increasingly efficient and compatible with California’s transition towards clean energy, as outlined in SDG 7.

1. Energy Requirement: Modern plants require approximately 3,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per acre-foot of water. Producing one million acre-feet would consume 3,500 gigawatt-hours (GWH).
2. State Energy Context: This represents just over 1% of California’s current annual electricity consumption (approx. 300,000 GWH) and a smaller fraction of its projected 2045 consumption (over 500,000 GWH).
3. Future Energy Landscape: Anticipated advances in renewable energy (photovoltaics, battery storage) and other clean power sources will likely lead to abundant and affordable electricity, further reducing the operational energy cost of desalination and supporting climate action goals (SDG 13).

4.0 Environmental Stewardship and Protection of Marine Ecosystems (SDG 14)

Environmental objections to desalination can be managed through modern engineering practices that align with SDG 14 (Life Below Water), which aims to conserve and sustainably use marine resources.

• Intake Systems: The impact on marine life can be successfully mitigated using large, low-velocity, fine-screened open-ocean filters, a method proven effective globally.
• Brine Discharge: The brine byproduct, with a salt concentration approximately twice that of the ocean, can be safely managed. Discharging it under pressure into major oceanic currents, such as the California Current, ensures rapid and natural dispersal with negligible environmental impact.

5.0 Economic Analysis and Comparative Cost-Effectiveness

While high costs are a significant barrier in California, comparative analysis suggests that state-specific regulatory and political factors, rather than the technology itself, inflate project expenses. Investing in cost-effective desalination infrastructure is critical for achieving sustainable economic growth and resilient communities (SDG 11).

5.1 Cost Comparison of Water Projects

• Pacheco Reservoir Expansion: Projected to cost $2.5 billion for 134,000 acre-feet of storage capacity, equating to an effective capital cost of over $37,000 per acre-foot of annual yield.
• Huntington Beach Desalination Plant (Proposed): Projected to produce 56,000 acre-feet annually at a construction cost of $1.4 billion, or $26,786 per acre-foot of guaranteed annual production.

5.2 National and International Cost Benchmarks

• Saudi Arabia (2018): New plants were constructed at an inflation-adjusted cost of approximately $9,573 per acre-foot of capacity.
• Texas (Proposed): A planned 500,000 acre-foot per year complex is estimated to cost $6.0 billion, or $12,000 per acre-foot of annual capacity.

The discrepancy between California’s projected costs and those in other jurisdictions highlights an opportunity for policy and regulatory reform to make this vital technology more accessible.

6.0 Conclusion: A Pathway to Water Security and Sustainable Development

Large-scale desalination presents a viable, scalable, and sustainable solution to California’s water crisis. It aligns directly with multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 9, SDG 11, and SDG 14. The primary impediments are not technological, environmental, or energetic but are rooted in political and regulatory frameworks that result in prohibitive costs. By adopting policies that reflect global best practices, California can build resilient water infrastructure, ensure water security for its communities, and advance its commitment to a sustainable future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The entire article revolves around addressing water scarcity in California by proposing large-scale desalination as a viable solution to increase the supply of fresh water for urban consumption. It directly discusses methods of water production and supply management.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article explicitly addresses the energy consumption of desalination plants, arguing that the energy cost is often overstated. It mentions the specific energy requirement (3,500 kilowatt-hours per acre-foot) and contextualizes it within California’s total and future electricity consumption. It also touches upon future energy sources like PV/battery technology and SMR nuclear technology.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article focuses on the development of resilient and sustainable infrastructure, specifically large-scale desalination plants. It compares the costs and yields of different water infrastructure projects, such as the proposed Huntington Beach desalination plant and the Pacheco Reservoir expansion, advocating for investment in innovative water production technology.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The discussion about securing a stable water supply for California’s urban population is directly linked to making cities and human settlements sustainable. The article notes that a single large desalination plant could supply “more than 12 percent of ALL California’s urban water consumption,” highlighting the importance of this infrastructure for urban resilience.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The article addresses common environmental objections to desalination, which directly relate to the health of marine ecosystems. It discusses the potential impacts of brine discharge and water intakes on marine life and proposes mitigation techniques, such as using “low-velocity, fine-screened open-ocean filters” and discharging brine into the “California Current” for immediate dispersal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article’s proposal to build desalination plants aims to increase the availability of fresh water, which is a fundamental step toward ensuring access for California’s population.
  • 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 article’s central theme is creating a new, sustainable supply of freshwater through desalination to combat scarcity, directly aligning with this target.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The article argues that modern desalination is energy-efficient, requiring “about 3,500 kilowatt-hours per acre foot,” and compares this favorably to the energy needed for other water transport and recycling methods.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. The article advocates for building large-scale, reliable desalination complexes as a key piece of water infrastructure, comparing construction costs and yields to other projects like reservoirs to argue for its sustainability and reliability.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters, including water-related disasters. By providing a drought-proof source of water, desalination infrastructure helps mitigate the impacts of water scarcity, a recurring disaster for California’s cities.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  • Target 14.1: By 2030, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities. The article directly addresses the concern of marine pollution from desalination by discussing the management of brine, noting its salt concentration is “only twice that of the ocean” and can be “naturally and immediately disbursed” when discharged properly.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

  • Indicator for Target 6.4: The article provides several quantitative measures of water supply. Progress can be measured by tracking the volume of fresh water produced by desalination plants. Specific figures mentioned include:
    • Shoaiba Desalination Complex production: “nearly 900,000 acre feet of fresh water per year.”
    • Proposed Huntington Beach plant production: “56,000 acre feet of fresh water per year.”
    • Proposed Texas complex capacity: “500,000 acre foot per year.”

• For SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

  • Indicator for Target 7.3: The article provides a specific metric for the energy intensity of desalination. Progress in efficiency can be measured against this benchmark:
    • Energy required for desalination: “about 3,500 kilowatt-hours per acre foot.”
    • Total energy consumption: The article states desalination for a million acre-feet would be “one percent of California’s current total consumption of electricity.”

• For SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)

  • Indicator for Target 9.1: The article provides detailed financial data that can be used as an indicator of the investment in and cost-effectiveness of water infrastructure.
    • Construction cost per unit of capacity: The article calculates this for several projects: “$37,000 per acre foot per year” for the Pacheco Reservoir, “$26,786 in construction cost per acre feet” for Huntington Beach, “$9,573 of construction cost per acre foot” for Saudi plants, and “$12,000 in construction cost per acre foot” for the Texas project.

• For SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

  • Indicator for Target 14.1: While not a formal UN indicator, the article implies a measurable factor for pollution.
    • Salinity level of discharge: The article states the brine’s “concentration of salt is only twice that of the ocean,” which could be monitored at discharge points to ensure it meets environmental standards for rapid dispersal.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: californiaglobe.com