Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant Project

Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant Project

Santa Monica, California

The Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant Project was the reactivation of a 3-million-gallon-per-day desalination plant built by the city of Santa Barbara in 1992. Kiewit was the major design-build subcontractor and balance of plant engineer responsible for civil, structural, mechanical and electrical design. Kiewit managed all construction and self-performed the majority of the work.

Scope included demolition of the existing facility, remodel of the existing administration and electrical buildings, utilization of modular reverse osmosis desalination technology, installation of an ultraviolet disinfection system, refurbished product water tanks, and setting new inlet structures and inlet pumps offshore approximately 50 feet under water.

Featuring the most advanced technologies available at the time, the plant uses 40 percent less energy than the original design and minimizes environmental impacts while providing approximately 30 percent of the city’s drinking water.