In August 2016, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that Poseidon Water had changed the order of approvals for its planned 189,000 m³/day Huntington Beach desalination plant. Rather than applying first to the Coastal Commission for a development permit, the company would first ask the Regional Water Board to renew its operating permit, following new state rules on seawater desalination that took effect in January. Kiewit was the preferred builder. Poseidon expected permits by 2017 and was finalising a water sales deal with Orange County Water District.
The report showed how strongly permitting rules and opposition from environmental groups set the timetable for large desalination projects on the California coast.