Water Board OKs Study on Desalination Plant

The Metropolitan Water District’s board of directors approved a $500,000 study Tuesday that will outline the construction and operation of a pilot desalination plant that will serve Southern California, officials said.

The study, scheduled to last about two years, will determine the cost of building a plant that would produce 5 to 10 million gallons of fresh water a day, said Gary Snyder, a spokesman for the Los Angeles-based MWD. It will also pinpoint a location and design a basic construction model for the facility, he said.

“It’s partly because of the drought but mainly because of our long-term needs for additional water resources,” said Snyder, explaining why the study and proposed plant are necessary.