In October 2018, the Orange County Register reported that the planned desalination plant at Doheny Beach in Dana Point faced a test. The South Coast Water District was pursuing the 107 million dollar project alone, initially at 5 million gallons a day. A draft analysis by the Municipal Water District of Orange County ranked Doheny first if other districts joined. Seawater was to be drawn through slant wells beneath the sand. An opponent of the plant ran in the November board election.
The report showed how much small water utilities depended on partners, grants and political majorities when building desalination plants, especially when using an intake technology not yet proven in full-scale operation.
Source: Orange County Register