PACIFIC GROVE, CA, Nov. 13, 2014 -- In a unanimous decision made during a regular meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) approved California American Water's application to construct a test slant well for its proposed desalination project.
"This approval represents a tremendous step forward for the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project," said California American Water President Rob MacLean. "We now have the opportunity to study the feasibility of the preferred intake location and method, as selected by a broad group of stakeholders, and to confirm modeling work that supports that selection."
The CCC heard from dozens of supporters representing environmental, business and community-based groups. Speakers emphasized the need for progress on a water supply project for the Monterey Peninsula, given the state-imposed cutback schedule the community faces on its primary source of water, the Carmel River.
Also discussed was the need to conduct research on sub-surface intakes, such as slant wells, since they are the preferred desalination intake method of state and federal regulators.
The test well project is a temporary project, permitted to collect up to two years of data. The well is designed to draw seawater through the sand, avoiding impacts to marine life. It will be constructed on an already disturbed area of the beach, which is within an active sand mine located in North Marina.
For more information on the desalination project, visit www.watersupplyproject.org.
See also:
"CA desalination slant wells prove promising in collecting seawater"
"Californians overwhelmingly support desalination during drought, finds study"
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