IDE Americas wins design-build-operate contract for reviving desalination facility in California, US

IDE Americas, the US unit of the Israeli water desalination company IDE Technologies, has won a contract to refurbish, operate and maintain the Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant in Santa Barbara, California.

Santa Barbara City Council had approved a $55m investment which is expected to revive the presently dysfunctional facility.

IDE Americas is responsible for the design-build-operate (DBO) process of the plant which was developed during 1990s’ drought but had not been used post 1992.

The facility will be equipped with IDE’s energy-efficient reverse osmosis (RO) technology.

Initially, it is expected to generate 3,125 acre-feet per year (AFY) of high quality water which can meet 26% of the water demands in California.

The US city has been struggling with drought conditions for almost four years.

IDE Americas CEO Mark Lambert said: "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.

"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 US desalination market."

IDE Americas will also equip the facility with an option to expand its capacity to 7,500 AFY.

Commissioning of the facility is expected to be done by October next year.

Santa Barbara public works department project manager Robert L. Roebuck said: "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."