Jackson wrote on Nov 16, 2007 1:18 AM:An old but interesting idea (desalinzation) that might even mitigate the rising ocean levels from global warming. However, why not eliminate this expensive middle process and get the fresh water directly from the melting icebergs themselves? True that would also be expensive but its been studied for many years. Now may be the time to take it seriously. Why waste all that fresh and PURE water?

BOB wrote on Nov 16, 2007 5:11 AM:Got over population?

Alf wrote on Nov 16, 2007 6:22 AM:Now to see if this becomes a reality. Some other questions are how much the plant will REALLY cost, how much the water that is produced will cost and what to do with the filtered out "brine"? Regards, Alf.

Elizabeth wrote on Nov 16, 2007 6:36 AM: Desalting ocean water comes up in the USA when conserving water is not a habit. Schools, newspapers, religious organizations, government bodies, retirement homes, restaurants, motels,residences--everybody can get into the habit of using only what we need for healthy, clean lives. Right now we use water as if no life lived in the rivers and oceans.

Horray for human beings ! wrote on Nov 16, 2007 6:45 AM:The Coastal Commission FINALLY listened to the absolute needs of mankind. We need additional water. We need a huge amount of it. Desal is being used around the world. it is THE way many countries get their water. Now San Diego will have its own water supply in addition to imported water. There need to be controls, and it is obvious that controls were placed upon the project that will help protect marine life. The project itself helps protect human life and the Coastal Commission has made their decision. It has been a long haul for those of us who supported the idea and a long haul for those who were against it. At least we have been saved from "toilet-to-tap" which is being touted by some as the only way, but will in actuality threaten so many of us with compromised immune systems. Bravo. On to the Lands Commission.

Mike wrote on Nov 16, 2007 7:09 AM:This is a great idea. We drank the salt to fresh water in Desert Storm. Draught stricken states need to start pumping salt water.

Why the difference ? wrote on Nov 16, 2007 7:11 AM:Curiously, it seems that reports differ. In this article, the NCT states 304 million gallons of seawater will create 50 million gallons of drinking water, whereas others state 100 miil will create 50 mil. It seems as if the 304/50 is excessive. We need to understand why the difference. Regardless, thanks to all of those who supported this project, and a special thanks to the Coastal Commission for considering us. All of us.

fantastic news wrote on Nov 16, 2007 7:18 AM:Carlsbad will be the forerunner of water resourses.

A Voting Taxpayer wrote on Nov 16, 2007 7:25 AM:Excellent! Nice to see proactive measures towards our water problems in southern California.

Leaf wrote on Nov 16, 2007 7:33 AM:Something has to be done. We are rapidly running out of water, and there are no other viable sources. We have to go forward with this technology to have any viable chance of survival. Road blocks by officials are not the answer. Build the plant. If it works, build more as quickly as possible.

Rick wrote on Nov 16, 2007 7:33 AM:Another man made disaster in the making. How much sea life will die and how long until we don't enter the water off Carlsbad?

Grrreat... wrote on Nov 16, 2007 7:41 AM:The Coastal Commission approved the project. We now have water independent of outside sources . Are there any local water districts that haven't signed up for the water ? Water is necessary to sustain life.

Hooray! wrote on Nov 16, 2007 7:51 AM:About time. To those "worried" about a private company controlling water to the public obviously have no clue. It is the public companies that have gotten us to where we are today. Environmentalist if you don't like it, move. It is partly your fault we need this plant as you insist on protecting the Delta Smelt versus humans. With all the glaciers melting that is putting more fresh water into the sea. The salt taken out for drinking will help keep salt levels at a level so salt water creatures can continue to survive. As for green house gases, everyone plant 2 trees and we will "Carbon Offset" to ease our mind like those who suck more energy then anyone else do. Plus we can tell Northern California to take a hike! WIN WIN for everyone. The 3 that voted against this and all the staff should be fired. They are there to look out for us and it is obvious they can only see as far as the environmentalist. DRINK UP EVERYONE!!!

Nice idea wrote on Nov 16, 2007 8:26 AM:filtering out the brine, but what about all the toxins that man dumps down the seweres, motor oil etc. How do they propose on filtering out unhealthy chemicals?

Reef-Break wrote on Nov 16, 2007 8:27 AM:Re: Why the difference? The 50:100mgd ratio comes from the desal process. The salt concentration in the water pumped back to the sea is too high at 6%, so additional sea water is pumped to dilute the brine back to a more acceptable level. Reef

Roger wrote on Nov 16, 2007 8:32 AM:You think that this is the answer? There is no such thing as a 'drought-proof' water supply. Eventually, the cost of water will be more than most of you can afford. Here's an idea. How 'bought living in areas where there IS enough water to sustain the community?

needed wrote on Nov 16, 2007 8:33 AM:Since the mentality is to keep on building, I guess to keep the majority construction workers in business, the water is needed. Until people wise up and stop the construction industry ruining our cities you HAVE to have the desal plant.

dave wrote on Nov 16, 2007 8:37 AM:I'm heading out right now to run my lawn sprinklers for 8 hours....The Drought is OVER!!! Build those homes and widen that freeway. Of course, Carlsbad has maxxed out every inch of buildable space. All that new development will be coming to a neighborhood near YOU!!!

Concernd-1 wrote on Nov 16, 2007 8:39 AM:I'm pleasantly surprised by the approval. It seems common sense and necessity played the essential roles in the decision. Too often the knee-jerk environmentalist movement -- see Rick above -- have stymied any chance we have for a sustainable future.

Bro Rufus wrote on Nov 16, 2007 8:45 AM:Sending out tugboats to bring back icebergs is a swell idea, but think of this. Most of the planet's gold is in the sea. As long as they're taking the salt out, maybe they can get the gold also? Mitigate expenses that way...

To Roger wrote on Nov 16, 2007 8:58 AM:Please do. Leaves more for us!!

Bill W wrote on Nov 16, 2007 9:05 AM:Hey, Dave Its time for you to move

Hows about wrote on Nov 16, 2007 9:11 AM:we sneak up north one dark night and kill thoses little fishes the Judge has decreed is more important than man? Then we can resume bringing the water down to Southern California.

Chris wrote on Nov 16, 2007 9:39 AM:More expensive water? Don't think so-know that the Metropolitan Water District will now have competition for their monopolistic water practices and we will no longer be beholden to their policies and priorities. Thank you Caostal Commission ad Poseidon for moving this project forward!

Dick wrote on Nov 16, 2007 10:17 AM: Great news.

Peasant with a pitchfork wrote on Nov 16, 2007 10:24 AM:The Coastal Commission wisely chose to respect the will of the public.

Jake wrote on Nov 16, 2007 10:39 AM:Just a quick word about the judge in the Delta Smelt fiasco. He is bound by the law and wouldn't have even been involved if the environmental group had not filed the suit. Some, not all, of these types of actions by environmentalists should be considered "crimes against humanity".

Doug wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:06 AM:Will there be an all-day pass to see Legoland and the water plant? How much will it be?

So Cal Native wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:37 AM:Well, its about fricken time!

The amount wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:40 AM:of water in the ocean is finite, not infinite! Learn about the process before you speak. De-sal has many environmental impacts that will catch up with us eventually. And to rationalize that de-sal won't impact the environment because you are compensating for ice caps melting is absurd.

No Saltwater! wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:40 AM:This desalination plant will take out the fresh water and send the salt back into our ocean! Can the Pacific handle the millions of gallons of extra salty water Poseidon will put back into our pristine ocean water? What will our fish do?

Ed wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:51 AM:Not Suprising to see the lame Hooray! comments. San Diegans are not known for planning ahead. ie running out of water through brainless overdevelopmet and building homes in fire zones

Realist wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:57 AM:Most of the posters here seem to misunderstand the energy cost of a desal plant. In the reverse osmosis process pumps are used to push the water against semi-permeable membranes. The water molecule passes through and the salt is left behind to be dumped back into the ocean as a more concentrated brine. The salt is not taken out. Electricity is needed to run the pumps, which are working 24 hours a day. That electricity has to be generated. Folks, there is no free lunch here. With rising energy prices the cost of the purified water production will only rise. And the membranes clog and have to be periodically changed, which is very expensive. Plus seawater is very corrosive, thus maintenance costs are very high. Ultimately the purified water will be very expensive. It remains to be seen whether the plant will be economical. We have been through this before with the Point Loma and Santa Barbara desal plants. The process is very energy intensive.

The wrote on Nov 16, 2007 12:02 PM:amount of water in the ocean is finite, not infinite! Learn about the de-sal process before you speak. De-sal has many environmental impacts that will catch up with us eventually. And to rationalize that the amount of brine that gets put back in the ocean will equal the amount of water that the ice caps melt is absurd. Everyone not just you, enjoys turning on the tap and having clean safe water, do what you can to conserve.

Bryan wrote on Nov 16, 2007 12:12 PM:A saltier ocean? The brine discharge is only putting the same amount of salt & minerals back in that it pulled out. These environmental doomsdayers need a reality check!

N/A wrote on Nov 16, 2007 12:30 PM:Everyone should review all the details of water conservation and resources before forming an opinion on this matter. Sure, desal sounds great! It will provide SD with clean drinking water for decades to come and desal is able to tap an abundant source. However there are other factors that should be considered such as: water reclamation, water reuse, and legislation for public conservation. Currently, the majority of SD wastewater plants discharge their treated water to the ocean; basically turning an indirect potable water source into salt water. Desal will then use huge amounts of energy to desalinate water that was not salinated in the first place. Whereas the treated wastewater could be used to wash our cars, to water SD lawns and golfcourse as well as other non consumption based uses. But with the addition of the Desal plant the public will continue to waste money, energy and clean water on uses that don't require clean water. The construction of a Desal plant will just excaberate SD's overconsumption of a commodity. The city and local industries need to step up and realize that the heart of the problem is the wasteful activities of humans and that nothing will solve our water crisis until the publics actions are altered.

Bruce wrote on Nov 16, 2007 12:35 PM:People first then maybe fish later.... It's a good start to weaning ourselves off of LA fed resources stolen from the Colorado River. Finally some common sense for the general masses instead of catering to the loud crazies that would have us living off the land and dwelling in teepees. Or those that would what, tell people they can't live here or do business here?

robert wrote on Nov 16, 2007 12:49 PM:dudeeeeeeeeee please dont ruin warm waters excellent surf spot

Robert the Bruce wrote on Nov 16, 2007 1:36 PM:So how is this fish-poop-to-tap any better than toilet-to-tap?

Wes wrote on Nov 16, 2007 2:13 PM:This vote sends a message to the CCC's juvenile staff that loves to rewrite the Coastal Act at the drop of a hat: "Children, grow up! Didn't this same staff try to outlaw any use along the coast that could be seen from the sea.

Wes wrote on Nov 16, 2007 2:22 PM:Isn't this the same CCC staff that said you couldn't build on the coast if you project was visible from criuse ships?

Tony wrote on Nov 16, 2007 2:51 PM:Great news!!! Securing our own water supply is the most important thing that we can do. It is great to see that the commission sided with sanity instead of environmental wackos.

Paul wrote on Nov 16, 2007 3:36 PM:Reply to Jackson -- Many years ago ARCO tanker services looked into the exact topic you just discussed. I was witness to a discussion by an ARCO VP.

Paul wrote on Nov 16, 2007 3:38 PM:Folks, they use desal plants in the arab countries in the middle east.

Floyd wrote on Nov 16, 2007 4:20 PM:Well, sure, the ocean is finite. Are you suggesting that the desalination plant will somehow empty the ocean completely? If you are, please excuse yourself from the conversation.

Mmm, mmm good wrote on Nov 16, 2007 4:32 PM:Yippee! I like water. I'll drink that this. Of all the things in life to pay for, this ranks at the top.

American Mike wrote on Nov 16, 2007 6:30 PM:Build a nuke plant. Super heat and fuse mold the brine into building blocks, sell them to Mexico for export. Water supply from the plant only for human consumption. Recycle wastewater for carwash, irrigation and industrial use. Recycle biological waste in to fertilizer. Construct a plastic recycling plant nearby to utilize the steam and industrial waster water. Ahh, that's too much trouble. Just keep drinking Red Bull.

Jack wrote on Nov 16, 2007 8:54 PM:This is just a ploy by Las Vegas to free up Colorado River water to fuel their growth. Warburg Pinkus is behind Poseidon. Let California ruin its ocean so that Las Vegas can play.

No such luck ? wrote on Nov 17, 2007 8:38 AM:As thrilled as I am with the Coastal Commission's apparent approval of the Poseidon desalination plant, today I have read the follow-up story in the UT, which seems to indicate that they will not get their permit for quite some time, and because it is now semi-approved, (approved with conditions) it is somehow in the twilight zone and will be at the last of the list to be completely approved, behind other permnits that are in the process, due to staffing or some such thing. Also, the "toilet-to-tap" group, who speak as if they were merely environmentalists, are considering their options , and any lawsuit brought will be paid for by Poseidon ??? Some conditions. I may have some of this wrong, but the UT carries this story today. ...

Baffled wrote on Nov 18, 2007 5:09 PM:The San Dieguito water district gets it's local water from Lake Hodges. Hodges is polluted and low due to the fires and the drought. Yet Directors and Encinitas Council members Houlihan, Barth, and Bond voted against signing a contract for desal water from this plant! Why has there been non news coverage of this terrible governance by these clods?

gozonga wrote on Nov 21, 2007 6:31 AM:here's an idea. STOP BUILDING!!!!

greg wrote on Nov 22, 2007 5:34 PM:well it is about time someone took the first step in SO CAL. hopefully the other counties will follow the lead and liberate themselfs from water tyrany.

Jeff wrote on Dec 8, 2007 7:22 AM: Who needs water when we have beer