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1.
Is this project environmentally sound?
2.
Are there byproducts of this process?
3.
Will the facility be noisy?
4.
Will construction of the facility have any negative environmental impact?
5.
Will the facility produce any odor?
6.
Is it possible to use solar energy instead of electricity to fuel the plant?
1.
Is this project environmentally sound?
Absolutely. Before Poseidon can begin construction, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Coastal Commission, California Department of Health, the City of Carlsbad and other local agencies must be satisfied that the plant and its operations do not significantly impact the environment. The comprehensive review process under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) involves agencies at the local, state and federal levels and includes input from the local community and environmental stakeholders.
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2.
Are there byproducts of this process?
Yes. The solids that are removed from the seawater, including silt, will be disposed of through the local sewer system. Since it takes two gallons of seawater to produce one gallon of drinking water, another by-product is one gallon of water with double the salinity of seawater. The Carlsbad desalination project will take its seawater (at about 3.3% salinity) from the Encina plant's cooling water flow-through and mix the more saline byproduct (about 6.6% salinity) with the power plant's discharge. The mixing reduces the salinity of the discharge to about 3.6% before it enters the ocean. All byproducts are disposed of in accordance with environmental regulations and as approved by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
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3.
Will the facility be noisy?
No. The only source of noise is the high-speed electrical pumps, which will be acoustically attenuated to meet or exceed the City of Carlsbad's noise ordinances.
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4.
Will construction of the facility have any negative environmental impact?
No. The facility will be built on an existing industrial site. Removal of the old oil storage tanks will actually improve the appearance of the site, as will the implementation of an enhanced landscaping plan approved by the City.
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5.
Will the facility produce any odor?
No. There will be no odors on or off the site from the desalination plant.
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6.
Is it possible to use solar energy instead of electricity to fuel the plant?
It is possible but it would dramatically increase the operating cost and the cost of water to the consumer.
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