Would the desalination facility provide additional water for UCSC’s proposed expansion? What about potential subsequent expansions of the desalination facility as discussed?
The proposed 2.5 million gallon per day desalination facility would be used by the City of Santa Cruz to meet water demands during drought conditions. Implementation of the desalination facility does not have an impact in terms of causing or aiding planned growth at the University. Additional environmental review would be required for any such expansion of the desalination facility or change in operation to ensure that development of additional water supply for Santa Cruz is responsive to planned growth. That possibility was considered too speculative to be included in the Water Supply Assessment that looked at whether or not water was available for University Expansion. In the summer of 2008, an agreement was forged between the City and UCSC. It included provision 3.2b, which states that UCSC would be treated as any other developer and subject to all costs and provisions related to any new water service connections.
