Cost to transmit and treat 1 million gallons of water from Loch Lomond reservoir = $170 (Integrated Water Plan, (2003) p V-6)
Cost of desalinated water = $3600 to $6000 per million gallons (Pacific Institute, Desalination, With a Grain of Salt)
Cost projection for Monterey Regional Desal
= $19,000 per million gallons (California Public Utilities Commission Division of Ratepayer Advocates
Pre-construction costs:
Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek District have already spent $2 million on a pilot desal plant. In addition, in 2009-2012 the Water Districts are planning to spend $15.5 million on “design, permitting, and other related preconstruction expenses” (Water Supply Assessment (2009) p 49
Opportunity cost:
The cost to pursue desalination has already committed $17.5 million in funds that might have be spent on conservation.
Santa Barbara Desal Plant, Completed, 1992, Shut down 2months later. Never reopened.
