CityofSantaBarbara
Source: City of Santa Barbara
Currently, there is a barge offshore, near Stearn’s Wharf, supporting maintenance, repair, and inspection work being performed on the City’s two desalination plant intake pumps and related infrastructure.
The barge is equipped with a crane to pull the desal equipment and is supporting the divers who are performing the underwater work at depths of 40 feet.
For the divers’ safety, the desalination plant has been idled for this mandatory work. Water customers in the downtown and Funk Zone areas might notice a difference in the taste of their tap water while the Desal Plant is out of service for an anticipated couple of weeks.
There are many factors associated with bringing the desal plant back into service including ocean conditions, reconditioning the filters, and having the drinking water pass all required state drinking water tests before it can be put into the distribution system.
The City, fortunately, has a robust and diverse water portfolio that includes Lake Cachuma, Gibraltar Reservoir, State Water, groundwater, desalinated water, recycled water, and a vigorous water conservation program. The diversity of the City’s water supplies enables the City to rely on other supplies when one is impacted, while ensuring safe and continuous water service for the community.
The barge is scheduled to be here for the next few weeks.
For more information please contact Gaylen Fair, Water Quality Superintendent at gfair@santabarbaraca.gov
My cousin said on Facebook that it’s the ground control for Jewish space lasers.
How much are we paying these City staffers to develop these public notices to ensure us that they are doing a great job? I guess the days of just assuming they are doing a great job are long gone, so they have to convince us using our tax money. Good work if you can get it.
The city has a robust and diverse water portfolio only in wet times. In a severe drought we have only desal. Lakes, ground water and state water will not be available.