SANTA BARBARA, California (Press Release) — The Israeli firm IDE Americas announced it has been selected to refurbish, operate and maintain the recommissioned Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant in Santa Barbara, California. Under the city’s Design-Build-Operate (DBO) process, IDE was chosen to reactivate the plant for its proven experience, modular approach, and ability to meet the city’s short timeframe.
The Santa Barbara plant will help to address California’s growing water demands with IDE’s proven, energy-efficient reverse osmosis (RO) solution. It will initially produce 3,125 acre-feet per year (AFY) of high quality water, meeting 26 percent of the city’s water needs. The plant also has the option to expand to 7,500 AFY, and is scheduled to provide potable water by October 2016.
This project comes on the heels of IDE’s partnership with the Carlsbad Desalination Project, developed and owned by Poseidon Water. IDE has chosen Kiewit as its civil and electromechanical work contractor for the Santa Barbara plant based on its strong partnership in Carlsbad.
“California’s record-breaking drought is showing no sign of easing up anytime soon. This reinforces the need for a drought-proof solution such as water desalination,” said Mark Lambert, CEO of IDE Americas. “With this project in Santa Barbara, we look forward to increasing the reliability of the region’s water supply and expanding our footprint in the U.S. desalination market.”
“During a time of shrinking surface and groundwater supplies, the Santa Barbara desalination plant represents an alternative way to help meet the region’s rising need for potable water,” said Robert L. Roebuck, project manager for Santa Barbara’s public works department. “With IDE’s extensive experience designing and supplying equipment for over 400 desalination plants across the globe, including Carlsbad, we knew IDE would be the perfect partner to reactivate this plant.”
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Preceding provided by IDE Americas