In March 2016, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that San Luis Obispo County in California had approved two emergency water supply options. The reverse osmosis unit of the Diablo Canyon nuclear station, rated at 3,200 m³/day (3.2 Ml/d), could be enlarged to yield up to 1.25 million m³ of extra water a year. This required a 10 km link to Lopez Lake, costing up to US$11 million. A feasibility study was in progress. The second option was water recycling in Pismo Beach to recharge groundwater.
The report showed how prolonged drought in California pushed counties to consider existing desalination at industrial sites and water recycling as backup for public supply.