The number of local-government partners in the proposed Coquina Coast desalination plant in Florida, USA, has reduced from 11 to four in recent weeks, although some of the dropout communities still expect to buy water from the project.
This has resulted in a reduction of the likely plant size from its original figure of at least 50 MGD (189,000 m³/d) quoted in D&WR in March 2010 to 10-15 MGD (37,800-56,800 m³/d), according to a report in the Orlando Sentinel on 26 May 2010.
The remaining quartet of local governments committed to the Coquina Coast Seawater Desalination Alternative Water Supply Project are lead agency Palm Coast, Leesburg, DeLand and St Johns County with the St Johns River Water Management District remaining on board as a funding partner. An end-May deadline for funding the next stage caused the withdrawals.