Seawater May be Drought Solution for One California City
With California in a drought, the coastal city of Santa Barbara is thinking about firing up a desalination plant that has been in storage for more than two decades.
The city built the plant in the 1990s during the last drought but turned it on for only three months after heavy rains eliminated the need for extra water.
Desalination involves removing salt from ocean water or groundwater, but it’s not a quick drought-relief option. It takes years of planning and overcoming red tape to launch a project.
Many environmentalists think desalination should be a last resort.