How does the cost of desalination compare to other water supply solutions?
It is comparable to new or alternative resources such as recycling, reuse and aggressive conservation. Costs for alternative water resources can range from $600 to $1,200 per acre-foot. The Carlsbad project produces and delivers drinking water for approximately $1000 per acre-foot. One acre-foot (enough to cover one acre, one foot deep) can supply two typical households needs for one year. Since the costs of alternative supplies keep rising while the cost of desalination keeps dropping, desalination is an economically prudent long-term investment.
