A revolutionary deep-sea desalination system is undergoing testing in Southern California, offering potential hope for a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to converting seawater into drinking water.
The technology, developed by OceanWell Co., involves placing 40-foot-long pods on the ocean floor several miles off the Malibu coast. These devices would take in saltwater and pump purified fresh water to shore through a pipeline, creating what the company calls a water "farm."
A prototype is currently being tested at Las Virgenes Reservoir in the Santa Monica Mountains foothills. The system aims to address key environmental concerns that have historically plagued coastal desalination plants. Unlike traditional facilities, the deep-sea pods won't harm marine life through intake systems or create concentrated brine discharge that damages ecosystems.
"We pull fresh water only up out of the ocean, and the salt stays down there in low concentrations, where it's not an environmental problem," explained Tim Quinn, OceanWell's water policy strategist.
The technology leverages natural ocean pressure at depths of about 1,300 feet to help drive seawater through reverse-osmosis membranes, potentially reducing energy requirements by 40% compared to conventional desalination plants.
If successful, the first water farm would initially deploy 20-25 pods capable of producing about 60 million gallons of water daily – enough for approximately 250,000 households. The company aims to begin construction by 2028.
Seven Southern California water agencies are closely monitoring the project's development. The pilot study has received over $700,000 in grants from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Key questions remain about energy requirements, maintenance needs, and total costs. The company must also secure additional permits from federal and state authorities before proceeding with full-scale implementation.
The technology could help address California's growing water challenges as climate change threatens traditional water sources. Research indicates that water availability from the State Water Project could decrease by 13-23% over the next two decades due to rising temperatures and intensifying droughts.
If proven viable, the system could be replicated along California's coast and in water-scarce regions worldwide with suitable offshore conditions, potentially transforming how communities access drinking water from the ocean.