All of this information can, again, be found in more detail in the City of Santa Barbara Long-Term Water Supply Plan. The report can be found here: http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=34152
Monday, May 26, 2014
How Much will this Cost?
Now we have come to the question that everyone has been asking: how much will this desalination facility cost? Desalination is notorious for being an expensive solution to water problems, so it is no surprise that the people of Santa Barbara are concerned by the reactivation of the Charles Meyer Desalination Facility. It will cost $17.7 million to reactivate the plant, estimated by Carollo Engineers. $2.5 million will be needed for system improvements would also be need for the the entire water system. The operating costs are going to be around $1,470 per acre feet. This will work out to approximately $5 million per year. It appears likely that the city will have to consider grants or loans for the reactivation costs. More importantly, how will this desalination plant affect your water bills? Unfortunately, that information is not available to us at this point in time. The City of Santa Barbara has stated on their drought website that as the project continues, "a study will be completed and shared with the Council that will help to understand the financial impacts the desalination facility will have on monthly water bills." When the study is released, I will make sure to summarize it on this blog and post a link.
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This is worrying for a lot of residents so it's nice to see the numbers broken down. Of course we will all be paying a little bit and that's been a huge con in the publics eyes. I think it's important to see what the plant will do and how much we need it though. Thanks for the informative post!
ReplyDeleteHow many house holds will an acre foot provide water for? I t seems like a lot of mony
ReplyDeleteA typical American household of four uses about 400 gallons of water a day according to the epa. Which ends up being about half an acre foot per year. One acre foot is about two households of four. It is very expensive.
DeleteI see, that is only $735 per household per year. I can see how it can work. Expensive but within the range of affordable. I suppose there could be losses in the distribution system that could put the costs higher. Leaks and evaporation and the like.
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