The Soquel Creek Water District in California, USA, which is partnering the City of Santa Cruz in a proposed seawater desalination project, has voted to leave CalDesal, the California pro-desalination lobby group.
CalDesal has more than 30 public water agencies among its members, including the City of Santa Cruz. It also includes most of the major US companies involved in desalination, some of whom have worked on the Santa Cruz project.
The Soquel Creek board felt that its membership of a pro-desalination group created difficulties when it had to make decisions on whether or not to proceed with desalination.
The draft environmental impact report for the 2.5 MGD (9,500 m³/d) seawater desalination plant was released on 13 May 2013. It will be available for public comment until 15 July 2013.