In September 2018, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that the Monterey Peninsula Supply Project had received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). It included a desalination plant of about 24,200 m³/day (6.4 MGD) north of Monterey, expanded aquifer storage and purchases of recycled water from the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency. American Water subsidiary California American Water was to complete the plant by 2021 at an estimated USD 329 million. Seawater was to be drawn through angled slant wells.
The report showed that desalination in California was approved as part of a package with aquifer storage and recycled water, accompanied by measures to protect marine life.