CC SS 20150818 SS2A - West Basin Municipal Water District Seawater Desalination FacilityCITY OFRAf ICHO PALOS VERDES
MEMORANDUM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM: COUNCILMAN ANTHONY MISETICH
DATE: AUGUST 18, 2015
SUBJECT: WEST BASIN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
SEAWATER DESALINATION FACILITY
RECOMMENDATION
Action Item: 1) Adopt Resolution No. 2015-_; supporting the Ocean Desalination
Plant proposed by the West Basin Municipal Water District; and, 2) Authorize
Councilman Anthony Misetich (RPV City Council West Basin representative) to speak
on behalf of the City Council at public hearings and meetings in favor of the Ocean
Desalination Plant Project.
BACKGROUND
West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) is seeking to develop a seawater
desalination facility. Between 2002 and 2008, West Basin operated a 14,000 gallons per
day (gpd) desalination pilot facility at the EI Segundo Power Plant (West Basin
Municipal Water District 2010). In November 2010, West Basin opened a 50,000 gpd
demonstration facility in Redondo Beach to conduct research and develop data for the
permitting, design, construction, and operation of a full-scale facility. A full-scale facility,
if constructed, would produce up to 30 million gallons per day (MGD) and could be
operational as soon as 2017. West Basin is currently developing a desalination master
plan and conducting public hearings commencing August 31, 2015 to evaluate siting
options for a full-scale facility.
DISCUSSION
Due to the severe drought in California and water use restrictions placed on all cities,
including the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, several cities in the state of California have
identified seawater desalination as an important new source of water, providing
diversification and water supply reliability benefits as a new drought -proof, treated water
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Study Session: West Basin Seawater Desalination Facility
August 18, 2015
Page 2
supply. As a result of this incremental water supply, ocean desalination will become an
important element of West Basin's diversified water supply portfolio to the South Bay
cities, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
CONCLUSION
The City has an opportunity to support the efforts of the West Basin Municipal Water
District to develop a desalination facility to provide an alternative water source to serve
the South Bay cities. Per the Council's adopted Rules of Procedure, Councilman
Misetich is requesting the City Council to take action on this item during this evening's
Study Session to adopt a resolution in support of West Basin's proposal and to
authorize Councilman Misetich to represent the City Council at public hearings and
meetings in favor of the Ocean Water Desalination Plant Project.
Attachment:
Draft Resolution (page 3)
V:\CAROLYNN\REPORTS\2015\20150818_Study Session—West Basin Desalination Facility.docx
RESOLUTION NO. 2015-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES SUPPORTING
THE WEST BASIN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT'S PROPOSED OCEAN WATER DESALINATION
FACILITY
WHEREAS, as a city located within the West Basin Municipal Water District, the City of Rancho
Palos Verdes understands the need and advocates for the development of a safe, reliable, drought -proof
source of alternative water supplies.
THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES HEREBY FINDS,
DETERMINES AND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: With increased reliance on enhanced water conservation and increased water recycling
as an important component of West Basin's water supply portfolio, production from ocean water
desalination will provide a safe and reliable alternative water supply.
Section 2: The West Basin Municipal Water District's proposed desalination facility will produce
up to a much needed 30 million gallons per day of incremental fresh water supply for the region.
Section 3: For the foregoing reasons, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes strongly supports West Basin
Municipal Water District in the development of an ocean -water desalination plant.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED THE 18th DAY OF AUGUST 2015.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles )ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
1, Carla Morreale, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the above Resolution
No. 2015-_ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting
thereof held on August 18, 2015.
City Clerk
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