Welcome to the web site of the Bay Area Regional Desalination Project. The Bay Area’s four largest water agencies, Contra Costa Water District, East Bay Municipal Utility District, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and Santa Clara Valley Water District are jointly exploring developing regional desalination facilities that would benefit the 5.4 million Bay Area residents and businesses served by these agencies.

The State Department of Water Resources recently awarded the agencies a $1 million grant to fund a small-scale pilot project. Early studies identified Contra Costa County as the best location for a pilot desalination plant. The pilot plant is expected to begin operations during the summer of 2008. A site for the full-scale desalination plant has not yet been selected.

In March 2008, a consultant was selected to build a pilot desaltination plant in Contra Costa County to test pretreatment options, membrane performance, and approaches for brine disposal. Environmental review of the study is expected to begin in 2009, followed by design and construction in 2012.