SANTA CRUZ - Concerns about a proposed desalination plant dominated questions during a Santa Cruz Neighbors forum about the city's water system Tuesday, another sign that tension is growing about turning seawater into drinking water.
June Coha, a resident of Santa Cruz for more than 40 years, came to the meeting opposed to desalination, but left with an open mind after city officials discussed the plant as part of a long explanation about water supply, demand and finances.
"Now, I'm not sure," she said.
Taking on a big-picture topic like the city's water system is a departure from the norm for Santa Cruz Neighbors, which typically zeroes in on issues within specific neighborhoods or at least general safety threats that could affect different parts of town.
But organizers acknowledged that water - especially the scarcity of its supply during a critically dry year like the one shaping up - is a major issue that affects all neighborhoods and will only grow in importance as the community debates desalination. The city has proposed building a plant that could transform at least 2.5 million gallons of seawater per day into drinking water.
A member of the Right to Vote on Desal campaign was initially given permission to make a formal presentation Tuesday, but leaders of Santa Cruz Neighbors decided to "pull back and refocus" the meeting to deal more broadly with water issues, said co-founder Deborah Elston.
"Tonight, desal is part of the discussion, but not the whole discussion," Elston said. However, at the end of meeting, during a question-and-answer period, Elston allowed Paul Gratz, a member of Santa Cruz Desal Alternatives, to speak briefly.
Gratz told audience members other municipalities have closed plants or placed on hold proposals to build new ones due to the financial and energy demands. If a plant is built locally, Gratz said, "There won't be any money left for options for management of demand and supply."
Water officials said the cost of the plant, estimated now at $115 million, could be funded through bonds or rate increases and would be shared with the city's desalination partner, Soquel Creek Water District. The city, which serves 92,000 customers from Davenport to Live Oak, projects the rate increase per customer to build the plant will be $5 per month.
Officials still are studying how to reduce the energy required to conduct the reverse osmosis process that desalts ocean water, estimated at 10 times as much as required per 1,000 gallons at the city's treatment facility. But because the plant is expected to supply only a portion of the city's water each year, the energy required will be closer to two or three times more than used at the treatment facility.
Officials also are awaiting a critical environmental analysis, which is expected this summer after more than a year of study, and are narrowing locations where the intake system and plant would be located.
Anti-desal advocates are collecting signatures to place a city charter change amendment on November's ballot measure that would ask voters whether they want a say on building a plant on a future ballot.
Marlene Majewska, a Santa Cruz resident, said she felt "hoodwinked" that desal opponents weren't allowed to make a full presentation. "All we got was propaganda," she said.
But Jim Mesik, also of Santa Cruz, disagreed, saying he appreciated hearing about the city's water history and why desal is on the table.
"There are more viewpoints to be heard," he said.
Follow Sentinel reporter J.M. Brown on Twitter @jmbrownreports