Overcoming Obstacles to Create an Emergency Water Supply in California?s Water Crisis

Saga of the Cambria Community Service District starting in 1987 to develop a seawater desalination system stymied by the California Coastal Commission was abandon after a tumultuous period of opposition from vocal community groups and regulatory agencies due to enviornmental concerns. Modifications resulted in an Advance Water Treatment Project (AWTP) utilizing a mix of percolated secondary effluent, non-saline groundwater and high saline ground water. The facility was permited using a California Dept. of Public Health (CDPH) Stage 3 Water Shortage Emergency declaration in combination with stringent water conservation measures and newly passed groundwater recharge reuse regulations for indirect potable reuse. A project delayed for 27 years, designed and built in 9 months.