Robert W. Goldsworthy DesalterThe Robert W. Goldsworthy Desalter, located in the West Coast Basin within the City of Torrance , began operation in 2001. The purpose of the desalter is to treat a saline plume located in the West Coast Basin that was trapped as a result of barrier operations designed to halt seawater intrusion. In order to put the water from the desalter to beneficial use, the District made the decision to sell the "product" water to the City of Torrance for distribution in their potable water distribution system. Currently, the facility is extracting and treating approximately 2.75 million gallons per day.
After the water passes through the membranes, its pH is adjusted and it is disinfected. Once treated, the water is of very high quality and exceeds all federal and state drinking water standards. The treated water is channeled into the distribution system in Torrance . The salt or brine - the residual product after the salty water is treated - is discharged through a brine pipeline to the sewer system. In order to fully contain and remediate the saline plume, additional measures may be necessary in the future. The WRD is actively pursuing solutions to this long-term problem and continues to work with the Torrance Water Department, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the pumpers' Technical Advisory Committee and others on the future of saline plume removal in the West Coast basin. |
The Goldsworthy Desalter works through microfiltration and reverse osmosis treatments. Salty water extracted from the aquifer is forced through reverse osmosis membranes and the salt is removed from the water.