The city of Antioch, California, has officially opened a $116 million brackish water desalination facility designed to enhance the reliability of its drinking water supply. Drawing from the increasingly saline San Joaquin River, the plant uses advanced microfiltration and a two-stage reverse osmosis system to produce up to 6 million gallons of potable water per day.
This strategic investment is expected to supply up to 50% of Antioch’s water needs during certain months and approximately 30% annually. The facility significantly reduces the city’s reliance on purchased water from the Contra Costa Water District and operates at less than half the energy cost of seawater desalination.
Funding support came from:
- $60 million low-interest loan via the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
- $10 million grant from the Department of Water Resources under Proposition 1
The plant aligns with Governor Gavin Newsom’s Water Supply Strategy, which aims to address a projected 10% reduction in California’s water availability by 2040 through conservation, recycling, and stormwater capture.
Antioch, serving over 112,000 residents, joins seven other brackish desalination facilities currently operating in California, with 14 total plants planned by 2040.
State officials praised the project as a model for climate adaptation and local-state collaboration in securing long-term water sustainability.
(Source: Smart Water Magazine)