A request for qualifications (RFQ) was issued on 1 April 2013 by California American Water (Cal Am) for the desalination infrastructure component of its Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project.
Based on the statement of qualifications submitted, up to four of the most qualified design-build entities will be invited to submit a proposal for the project. Proposals are due by 1 May 2013.
The water supply project, which will cost around US$ 400 million, includes seawater desalination, aquifer storage recovery and groundwater replenishment. It is currently being reviewed by the California Public Utilities Commission.
The 6.4-9.6 MGD (24,000-36,000 m³/d) desalination facility, which will be located in Marina, will treat water drawn from subsurface slant wells along the coast. The resulting brine will be discharged to the ocean through the existing Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA) outfall.
The size of the plant is dependent on whether or not the MRWPCA implements a 3,500 acre foot (4.3 million m³) per year groundwater replenishment project. If it does, the larger desalination capacity will not be needed.
The content of the RFQ is the result of a collaborative process between the company and members of the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project Governance Committee, a local oversight group made up of representatives from the Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority, Monterey County Board of Supervisors and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District.
“This desalination project provides an excellent opportunity for qualified firms interested in taking part in one of the most innovative water supply projects in the country,” said Cal Am director of engineering, Rich Svindland.
A copy of the RFQ and more information about the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project are available at www.watersupplyproject.org.