SACRAMENTO – Boosting the state’s work to protect California’s water supply from the impacts of climate-driven extremes in weather, the Newsom Administration on Apr 19 awarded $5 million in Proposition 1 desalination grants to three projects in Mendocino, Fresno and Los Angeles counties. An additional six projects will receive funding through a partnership with the National Alliance for Water Innovation to advance desalination implementation and research.

A key component of California’s Water Supply Strategy, Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future, desalination removes salts and minerals from brackish water and seawater to produce water suitable for consumption, irrigation and other needs. The state is working to expand brackish groundwater desalination production by 28,000 acre-feet per year by 2030 to help diversify local water supplies.

“California is taking action to adapt to the extremes in weather we’re seeing across the state, reshaping our water systems to meet these new challenges and better protect our communities,” said Governor Newsom. “Our all-of-the-above approach includes capturing and storing more water and innovative solutions like desalination to boost supplies and prepare for a hotter, drier future.”

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced that three desalination projects in Mendocino, Fresno, and Los Angeles counties will receive $5 million from the Proposition 1- funded Water Desalination Grant Program.