DWR Prop 1 Desalination Grant Program

Funding Update:Questions and Answers

Nancy King, PEToni Pezzetti, PG, CHG

February 8, 2019

Division of Statewide Integrated Water ManagementWater Use and Efficiency BranchWater Recycling and Desalination Section

1

CalDesal 2019

Question and Answer Approach

2

DWR’s Support of Desalination

Water Supply in California requires a portfolio approach California Water Plan has 31 Resource

Management Strategies, including Desalination (Brackish and Sea Water)

IRWM Projects

3

DWR supports programs and research Federal Saline Conversion Program (1958) DWR Fresno Office Research (mid 1960’s) Desalination Task Force (2003)

…… continued

DWR doesn’t issue any permits associated with a desalination project

We work closely with our sister agencies that do, including SWRCB which enforces the Ocean Plan Amendments

We manage the Desalination Grant Program, funded by Props 50 and 1 (and occasional projects through IRWM)

4

DWR’s Support of Desalination

Program began in 2004• Prop 50 – 3 funding rounds (2004, 2005, 2014)• Prop 1 – 1 funding round (2016 and

continuous application program, CAP)

Applications sought through issuance of Proposal Solicitation Packages (PSP)

Funding Rounds had single application dates, whereas the CAP allows applications to be submitted anytime

5

Desalination Grant Program

6

Desalination Grant Program

https://water.ca.gov/Work-With-Us/Grants-And-Loans/Desalination-Grant-Program

Produce a new potable supply from non-potable water

Desalinate a natural saline raw water source of >1,000 mg/L TDS

Improve local water supply reliability –consider drought, emergency needs, sea level rise

Evaluate other water supply options Benefit disadvantaged communities or

economically distressed areas7

Program Objectives

Cities, Counties, State agencies Investor Owned Utilities (PUC Regulated) Mutual Water Companies Joint Power Authorities (JPAs) Public Special Districts, e. g. water or irrigation districts Tribes Non-profit organizations (including water management

groups) Universities and colleges chartered as nonprofit or

government based Other political subdivisions of the State

8

Eligible Applicants

Construction – up to $10M

Feasibility Study – up to $700K

Environmental Documentation –up to $500K

Design Pilot – up to $1.5M

9

Project Categories

During the funding rounds – multi-agency review teams.

During CAP – Most review is handled by our section with consultation and help from other DWR staff and agencies

Review Forms

10

How Are Projects Reviewed?

Review Summaries

11

Review Summaries

12

SCREENING QUESTIONS• May or may include comments

PROP 1 BENEFITS QUESTIONS

TECHNOLOGY QUESTION • Not applicable to each project type• 50% not required

Review Summaries

13

QUESTIONS 7 TO 16 • Specific application questions• Box colored to show above or

below 50% threshold• Question 9 does not apply to

Research Pilot projects

50% not required

GENERAL COMMENTS • May or may not be included• No bearing on score

Review Summaries

14

TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS (varies by project type)

APPLICATION POINTS

PROJECT TOTAL POINTS PERCENTAGE

BRIEF STATEMENT

GENERAL REVIEW RECOMMENDATION

SPECIFIC STATEMENTS ABOUT APPLICATION ISSUES AND SHORT-COMINGS

Tips for Applicants?

Look at the review sheets in PSP Appendix J• Make sure application will receive 50% of each

question and 70% overall.• Pay attention to GHG, economic evaluation,

alternatives evaluation, and public outreach

Call us if you have questionsDon’t wait – we expect funding to be

allocated in 2019, possibly CAP3

15

What Projects were Funded in Round 4?Funding Category Applicant Project Title

GrantAward

Construction

South Coast Water District

Doheny Ocean Desalination Phase 1 Project $10,000,000

City of Antioch City of Antioch Brackish Water Desalination Project

$10,000,000

City of Camarillo North Pleasant Valley Desalter $10,000,000City of Santa Barbara

Reactivation of the Charles E. Myer Desalination Plant

$10,000,000

Design PilotEastern MWD

Enhanced Brine Concentration Design Pilot Project

$1,500,000

Olivenhain MWDSan Dieguito Valley Brackish Groundwater Desalination Design Pilot

$650,000

Feasibility Study

Indian Wells Valley Water District

Indian Wells Valley (IWV) Brackish Groundwater Feasibility Study

$1,083,984

WRD of Southern California

Feasibility Study for the West Coast Basin Brackish Water Reclamation Project

$700,000

Research Pilot

University of Southern California

System Configurations and Cooling Technologies for Waste-Heat-Driven Membrane Distillation in Desalination Applications with High Water Recovery

$503,490

Total Funding $44,437,474

What CAP1 Projects were Recommended for Funding?

17

Funding Category Applicant Project Title

GrantAward

ConstructionWest Basin Municipal Water District

C. Marvin Brewer Desalter Facility Improvements Project

$547,295*

Env. Doc.West Basin Municipal Water District

Full-Scale Ocean Water Desalination Facility Environmental Documentation

$500,000

Feasibility Study

City of Thousand Oaks

Los Robles Golf Course Groundwater Utilization (Phase 1 – Feasibility Study)

$111,326

City of Simi Valley Water Department

Feasibility Study to Develop the Simi Valley Groundwater Basin as a Potable Resource

$144,685

Total Funding $1,303,306*A decision on the full-amount of the grant request is awaiting additional information in 2019. Requested funds are considered applied for.

What Applications are in the Queue? Five projects are currently in the queue

• Three are Round 4 resubmittals• One is a new application• West Basin’s construction application

Two additional applicants have had meetings with DWR about projects, but have not yet submitted grant requests

Five other projects have had general discussions with DWR about specific projects

18

What is the Status of the Current Projects?Contracts: Almost all of the contracts are

in some form of developmentCAP1 is awaiting final Director approval CAP2 is expected to be released by mid-

March

19

20

What is Status of Prop 1 Funds?Bond Overhead & Admin

Round 4

Unallocated

Planning & Monitoring

CAP1

$100M

Future Funds?

21

Funds will be available on a continuous basis and will be

awarded on a first ready, first served basis until all grant funds are

exhausted.

Current projections - funds committed by year end

Future funds depend on the legislature and voting public

OTHER QUESTIONS??

22

Contact Information

Main Email• DesalPSP@water.ca.gov

Website• https://water.ca.gov/Work-With-Us/Grants-And-Loans/Desalination-

Grant-Program

Phone Numbers• Richard Mills (916) 651-0715• Nancy King (916) 651-7200• Toni Pezzetti (916) 651-7024• Jennifer Pulido Cano (916) 653-1021

23