 The City's desalination facility, located at 525 East Yanonali Street, was constructed in 1991-1992 as a temporary emergency water supply in response to severe drought. It was built by Ionics, Inc. under a "take or pay" contract. Over the five-year contract period, the City, along with the Montecito and Goleta Water Districts, paid off the $34 million construction cost and either paid for water produced or paid to maintain the facility in standby mode. Due to abundant rainfall since 1991 the facility remained on standby following completion of the initial testing period in June 1992. The facility has now been permitted as a permanent part of the City’s water supply and all equipment is compatible with long-term use.
The drought of the early 1990's showed that the pre-drought water supplies were inadequate. In 1990-1991, an extensive analysis was done to determine which water supply alternatives would best insure adequate water supplies for the future. The analysis showed that either desalination alone, at a capacity of 5,000 AFY, or the State Water Project at an entitlement of 3,000 AFY with a desalination capacity of 3,000 AFY as a drought back-up, were the best alternatives. In June 1991, City voters supported both the State Water Project and desalination as permanent water supplies and the City has included the combined State Water Project/ desalination option in its Long-Term Water Supply Program (LTWSP). The LTWSP includes conversion of the temporary facility to permanent status for use as a back-up supply during future droughts. It also includes potential use of the facility during non-drought periods as a part of water exchange agreements, allowing the facility to help meet regional or statewide needs for water. An Environmental Impact Report on the LTWSP was certified on May 24, 1994. A Coastal Development Permit for the permanent facility was approved by the City on December 7, 1995, and by the California Coastal Commission on October 9, 1996. The plant was dedicated as the Charles Meyer Desalination Facility on December 11, 1995, in honor of Commissioner Meyer's long and dedicated service on the City Water Commission, and in recognition of the facility's permanent role in the City's water future. The City has now acquired the plant from Ionics, Inc. Because the plant is not expected to be needed in the short term, the facility has been decommissioned by removal of components that require frequent maintenance, which will reduce the City’s maintenance costs by approximately $500,000 per year. When needed in the future, the plant will be reactivated with state-of-the-art membranes and other mechanical components. The basic infrastructure of the plant remains intact during this "long-term storage mode." With the Goleta and Montecito Water Districts no longer participating in the facility, the City decided to sell a portion of the capacity. In January 2000, just over half of the pre-filtration capacity and reverse osmosis treatment modules were sold, leaving sufficient capacity to meet the City's anticipated need for approximately 3,000 AFY of production in future droughts. With the capital cost of the plant paid off, the cost of desalted water is expected to be approximately $1,100 per AF, including labor, chemicals, power, maintenance, and a sinking fund to replace worn components. This relatively high operating cost is offset by the fact that the facility will only need to operate infrequently. In the interim, it serves as a sort of insurance policy, allowing the City to use its other supplies more fully. Questions regarding the facility can be directed to the City’s Water Hotline at (805) 564-5460.
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