Reclamation grant for Sweetwater desalination expansion

The US Bureau of Reclamation is to provide the Sweetwater Authority in California with a US$ 1.5 million grant towards the expansion of the Richard A Reynolds desalination plant.

California congressman Scott Peters announced the grant on 20 May 2014, saying that the expanded capacity would reduce water imports and, through an agreement with the City of San Diego, would provide many consumers across San Diego County with locally produced water.

Completed in 1999, the brackish-water reverse-osmosis desalination plant can produce 4 MGD (15,140 m³/d) of drinking water. The expansion will take this capacity to 10 MGD (37,850 m³/d).

Final design of the project is scheduled for August 2014, with tendering due to start in September 2014.