Offshore Desal Pump Platform Stabilization Project to Safeguard Critical Water Infrastructure

Starting Monday, October 20, the Ocean Provider, a 270-foot barge, will be anchored just east of Stearns Wharf to support the Offshore Desal Pump Platform Stabilization Project. This critical infrastructure upgrade is designed to protect and reinforce the two offshore intake pump structures that serve the Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant (Desal Plant).

Crews will be placing protective rock around the pump platforms, making them more resilient to strong currents caused by storms and large tidal changes. The barge will house all necessary staff, equipment, and materials on board to support the work. Construction will take place daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week, through late November.

Located approximately half a mile offshore in about 35 feet of water, one of the pump platforms has become partially suspended about 18 inches above the seafloor due to strong ocean currents. Long-term reinforcement is necessary to prevent potential movement or collapse of the intake structure. Originally built in 1991, the platforms were upgraded in 2016 with new pumps and screening systems during the Desal Plant's reactivation.

"This project helps ensure that the Desal Plant's infrastructure can withstand threats from natural disasters such as major storms and sea level rise," said Joshua Haggmark, Department of Water Resources Director. "Our City has developed the most diverse water supply portfolio in the state and continues to make smart and innovative investments to ensure our infrastructure continues to provide reliable water service."

This project supports the City's long-term commitment to diversifying its water supply by extending the useful life of the pump platform, ensuring that the Desal Plant remains a viable part of the City's water supply portfolio for years to come.

For more information, visit Offshore Desal Pump Platform Stabilization Project (SantaBarbaraCA.gov/DesalPumpPlatform).

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