California's Water Infrastructure Gets a Boost with $185M Desalter Project

The Torrance Groundwater Desalter expansion project, a joint venture between Jacobs and McCarthy Building Cos., has officially broken ground in California. The $185 million project aims to increase the facility's drinking water production capacity, reducing Southern Los Angeles County's reliance on imported water.

Once complete, the facility will be able to produce up to 7,100 acre-feet, or roughly 2.3 billion gallons, of drinking water annually. This significant investment in water infrastructure is part of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California's (WRD) Brackish Groundwater Reclamation Program.

The project has received substantial funding, with over $82 million in grants and low-interest loans secured to date. Significant investment has come from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Water State Revolving Fund, as well as other sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act WaterSMART Desalination Projects and the California Department of Water Resources' Prop 1 Water Desalination Grant.

The expansion will not only increase drinking water production capacity but also create additional groundwater storage capacity within the West Coast Basin. This is a crucial step towards advancing Southern California's water resiliency efforts and strengthening the region's clean drinking water supply.

As progressive design-build partners, Jacobs and McCarthy are working together to deliver this critical infrastructure project. The project represents WRD's largest capital project in its history and is expected to be substantially complete by October 2028, with the facility commissioned in 2029.

The use of technology-driven automation and workflow transformation is a key aspect of this project, as it enables the efficient and effective delivery of this complex infrastructure project. The adoption of such technologies is a significant trend in the industry, with many companies investing in automation-driven media infrastructure to improve their operations.

The Torrance Groundwater Desalter expansion project is a prime example of how technology adoption and industry transformation can have a positive impact on the environment and local communities. By investing in innovative solutions and embracing new technologies, we can create a more sustainable and resilient future for generations to come.