TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Marisa Lundstedt, Community Development Director
Tony Olmos, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:Title
Letter Opposing Construction of a Water Desalination Plant by West Basin Municipal Water District (Community Development Director Lundstedt/Public Works Director Olmos).
APPROVE
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_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
City Council authorization for the Mayor to sign the attached letter opposing construction of a water desalination plant by West Basin Municipal Water District.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
BACKGROUND:
The West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) has initiated the process of preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the construction of a potential new desalination plant located in the City of El Segundo. An alternative location for a desalination plant will also be evaluated in the EIR within the City of Redondo Beach.
On October 6, 2015, City Council directed staff to prepare a letter opposing the desalination project and also authorized staff to seek EIR expertise as needed.
DISCUSSION:
West Basin proposes the Ocean Water Desalination Project (“Project” or “OWDP”) in order to produce between 20 and 60 million gallons per day (MGD) of potable drinking water. The 20 MGD capacity (the “Local Project”) is the minimum capacity needed to meet the West Basin service area’s future water demands at a local scale, consistent with West Basin’s UWMP and Water Reliability 2020 Program objectives to reduce dependence on imported water. The 20 MGD capacity will be evaluated at a sufficient level of detail in order to allow subsequent regulatory permitting and construction. The OWDP EIR will also evaluate one or more “Regional Projects” of up to 60 MGD capacity, in order to address water demands at a regional scale, allowing for partnership with one or more other potential water retailers or wholesalers.
The desalination Project is proposed on an existing 33-acre site located at the NRG El Segundo Generating Station (301 Vista Del Mar), in the southwestern extent of the City of El Segundo. West Basin will also evaluate other desalination plant site alternatives located in Redondo Beach, including the AES Corporation (AES) Redondo Generating Station location.
The attached letter outlines the City’s intent to oppose the proposed desalination plant. The letter stresses the importance of exploring the recycled water option before moving forward with the EIR. The letter also recommends for West Basin to consider how the Water Replenishment District’s Groundwater Reliability Improvement Program (GRIP) is going to increase water supplies in the Central and West Basins. Per WRD, their GRIP project is expected to produce an additional 21,000 acre feet of water, which will instantly increase water supply portfolios for West Basin or the Metropolitan Water District by the same amount. Staff is in the process of soliciting information regarding an EIR expert to assist with this process.
CONCLUSION:
Staff is recommending that City Council authorize the Mayor to sign the attached letter (Attachment 1) opposing construction of a water desalination plant by West Basin Municipal Water District.
Attachments:
1. Letter Opposing the Proposed Desalination Project