In January 2016, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that CalAm president Rob MacLean had told California's utilities regulator CPUC that the Pure Water Monterey groundwater replenishment scheme was preferable to a bigger desalination plant, as more recycled water would allow a smaller one. The wider Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project included a 25,000 m³/day (25 Ml/d) seawater plant. A deal to buy 4.4 million m³ (4,400 Ml) of recycled water a year was almost complete. A CPUC ruling was due by year end, completion in 2019.
The report showed water reuse in California directly shaping the size of planned seawater desalination, with utilities carefully weighing the two supply options against each other.