Marina Voicing Dispute over CalAm Water Desalination Plant

MARINA, Calif. (KION-TV) - The City of Marina is speaking out against plans for a new Cal-Am water desalination plant while calling for people to contact the CPUC ahead of their meeting discussing the project on Thursday, July 24th.

The CPUC is voting on whether to approve new water demand estimates of 13,732 acre feet per year and a current water supply of 11,204 acre feet per year by 2050. Marina officials say that if those estimates are accepted, it could lead to the project going ahead with construction. The new plant is meant to ensure that Monterey Peninsula will have enough water resources for its future population expectations.

The City of Marina says that it disputes these water demand estimates, saying that local agencies like the Marina Coast Water District and Monterey Peninsula Water Management District don't expect water demand to increase past 11 thousand acre feet per year over the next 25 years.

The city going on record saying that it has historically opposed the project, and the desalination project would produce about 3 times more water than what is needed and would draw from marina's drinking water aquifers without serving water customers in the city. Officials also say the plant could raise local water bills.

The item is on the CPUC's consent agenda at 11am on Thursday.