Carlsbad desalination plant
At a glance
GHD in collaboration with Butier Engineering were selected by Poseidon Resources to provide Owner's Engineering services for the development, construction and commissioning of the 50 MGD Carlsbad Seawater Desalination project.
The challenge
As Owner's Engineer, GHD and Butier have and continue to provide general oversight and independent assessment of the performance of the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) Contractor relative to the delivery of the Carlsbad project.
Poseidon selected the team based on a combination of their technical capabilities and past experience in regard to large scale seawater desalination and intimate knowledge of the Southern California water infrastructure market.
Our response
Some of the Owner's Engineering tasks completed to date by GHD include:
- Project and site coordination activities
- Scope Book and Specification reviews
- Drawing and Design reviews
- Materials / durability / asset life review
- Consultation with local authorities and utilities
- General project management and technical assistance to the client
Once completed and operational, this plant will provide approximately 10% of the water demand for San Diego County.
The impact
"All the product water will be sold to the San Diego County Water Authority under a 30-year, fixed price water purchase agreement. The San Diego County Water Authority provides wholesale water to cities and municipal water agencies throughout San Diego County."
This plant will be the first of its size on the west coast of the United States. The facility will be a model for other desalination projects needed by the State of California in its search to diversify drinking water supplies.