Council to Hear Update on Proposed Desalination Plant

Capitola City Council will get an update on the controversial proposal of the Seawater Desalination Project, to build a plant that would turn saltwater into drinking water, during Thursday’s meeting.

The draft Environmental Impact Report is expected to be released mid-May and the public will have an opportunity to share their thoughts on the proposed project.

According to city documents, the project would provide water, up to 2.5 million gallons a day, to Soquel Creek Water District customers during non-drought periods and to the City of Santa Cruz water customers during droughts.

“The district relies entirely on a local groundwater basin that is being pumped at an unsustainable rate,” according to city documents.

The district could declare an emergency and implement year-round mandatory water rationing for the next 20 years if no other supplemental water source is found.

During Thursday’s meeting, the Santa Cruz Water Department and the Soquel Creek Water District will describe the proposed project and give locals more information on how to comment on the draft EIR.

The full council agenda is available here.

Capitola City Council meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25 in the City Hall council chambers, 420 Capitola Ave.

What do you think of the proposed desalination project? Tell us in the comment section below. 

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