That Answer to the Drought is to Increase the Supply of Water

By Shawn Dewane

Increasing Water Supply and Storage is the Answer to the Drought

For the past 6 years, I have worked to implement policies that have lead to a water supply system that is drought proof and 100% independent from expensive and unreliable imported water. These initiatives include:

Mesa's Colored Water Treatment Facility - We are in the process of expanding the plant capacity by 50%. We successfully negotiated an exemption from pumping restrictions in the ground water basin. This exemption allows Mesa to pump from this deep aquifer in an unlimited amount even in times of drought. This source of water would go unused if not for Mesa's treatment facility. It is estimated that there is as much as a 500 year supply of water stored in this deep aquifer. Our water supply system is unlike any other water agency in Orange County; drought proof, reliable and affordable.

Ocean Desalination -Seawater desalination has been discussed as a potential large scale water source since the days of Aristotle. This technology has proven itself effective over the past 20 years in applications like naval and cruise ships and in areas of the world where fresh water is scarce like Australia, Algeria and other countries. I have been a vocal advocate of Ocean Desalination. The Huntington Beach Desalination plant will supply 8% of Orange County's water needs when completed. I wrote an op/ed article that was published in the Orange County Register about ocean desalination that you can read here - http://www.ocregister.com/articles/water-224363-poseidon-project.html.