Wednesday September 17, 2025
Contra Costa News —
ANTIOCH, CA – The City of Antioch today hosted state and regional leaders, community members, and water experts at the dedication of its Brackish Water Desalination Plant, marking a major milestone in California’s water sustainability efforts.
The ceremony featured remarks by Mayor Ron Bernal, State Senator Timothy Grayson, Assemblymember Anamarie Avila Farias, Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel of the State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth, Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis, Contra Costa Water District Boardmember Antonio Martinez, Delta Diablo Boardmember and Antioch Councilmember Monica Wilson, and Brentwood Mayor Susannah Meyer.
Mayor Bernal called the project “a transformational investment that not only provides a critical water supply to meet Antioch’s health and safety needs during severe drought, but improves drought supplies for our neighboring members of CCWD and protects Antioch’s water rights and Delta diversions for decades to come.”
The facility is designed to meet up to 40% of Antioch’s water needs, powered by innovative technology that uses half the energy and generates just 25% of the waste of traditional ocean desalination. Funded in part by a $100 million investment from the State of California, the project reflects more than seven years of planning, permitting, and construction, including securing a first-of-its-kind brine discharge permit for the San Francisco Bay Area.
“As exemplified here in Antioch, in order to meet the challenges of a hotter, drier future we must find ways to better use the water already available to us,” said State Water Board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel. “Antioch joins about a dozen other leaders in the state that are exploring the potential of brackish desalination to build resilience to extreme weather. We applaud the city’s leadership,and we are proud to leverage our funding to make projects like this one affordable as cities diversify their water supplies.”
Director Karla Nemeth of the Department of Water Resources added: “DWR is proud to support Delta communities in their efforts to adapt to climate change. It’s this type of state-local partnership that enables innovative, new technologies to secure water supply over time for communities like Antioch as rising sea levels bring water quality challenges right to their doorstep. We have to move with a sense of urgency and this project ensures Antioch will have enough water during the next drought which is right around the corner.”
Following the ribbon cutting, attendees toured the facility, which showcases cutting-edge filtration and treatment technology. Community leaders emphasized that the project not only secures Antioch’s water future but also serves as a model for cities across California.