SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara City Council agreed to spend $43 million to reboot the city’s desalination plant, according to keyt.com.
It also approved a low-interest, 20-year loan, noted the article.
Several residents voiced concerns over the cost and environmental effects the plant could have, stated the article. Council members say a screen on the pipeline with protect fish.
The move comes as recent rains have had little effect on severe drought conditions, reported the article. IDE American Inc., which has plants in Israel and Australia, and one under construction in Carlsbad, was awarded the contract.
The facility is expected to be operational in 2016, shared the article, with a groundbreaking to be held in the fall. At first, the plant will generate 30 to 40 percent of the city’s current water usage.
It will cost between $1.5 and $4.1 million per year to run depending on the amount of water produced, noted the article. Some of the costs will be covered by increased water rates.
Click here to read the entire article.
