In March 2023, the US Environmental Protection Agency lent $170 million under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act for environmental upgrades at the Claude "Bud" Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant. As KPBS reported, citing City News Service, the funds were to cover new intake and discharge facilities so that the plant would continue to meet California's Ocean Plan standards for marine life. Work began in January, with the new facilities expected to operate by December 2024. Rep. Mike Levin put savings for ratepayers at up to $54 million.
The report shows how an existing large plant used low-cost federal financing to adapt to California's marine protection standards, with water production expected to continue apart from one planned outage, according to the water authority.
Source: KPBS