A joint venture between McCarthy and Jacobs has been chosen to design and construct the Torrance Groundwater Desalter Expansion. This initiative is a vital part of the Water Replenishment District (WRD) of Southern California's Brackish Groundwater Reclamation Program, as well as its broader “WIN 4 ALL” initiative. The project will treat brackish water from the West Coast Groundwater Basin, enhancing the region’s water supply for over 88,000 residents while reducing dependence on imported water.
The expansion will incorporate advanced reverse osmosis membrane technology to remove salts from groundwater, delivering high-quality drinking water. This facility could be among the first in the U.S. to combine nano-filtration and reverse osmosis for a municipal brackish water system.
With a planned budget of approximately $160 million, the project will expand the Robert W. Goldsworthy Desalter Facility’s capacity, producing an additional 9 million gallons of drinking water per day for the City of Torrance. The facility is expected to reach full operational capacity by 2027.
“Jacobs and McCarthy bring innovative water treatment solutions, paired with design-build experience to create a highly skilled team for this significant groundwater desalination project in southern California,” said Jacobs Senior Vice President Katus Watson. “The progressive design-build delivery model allows us to work collaboratively to minimize cost, reduce risk, streamline construction and improve schedule performance to fast track the completion of this state-of-the-art facility that will provide a sustainable drinking water supply for the near term and well into the future.”
The project will also include the construction of new groundwater extraction wells and raw water pipelines to support the expanded desalination facility.
“As water resources in the West are increasingly strained, advanced water treatment technologies are providing excellent solutions for communities like Torrance to ensure a sustainable and resilient water supply,” said McCarthy’s Water Group Vice President Sagrado Sparks. “Projects like this are proactively addressing water supply issues through proven technologies and continue to position California as a leader in protecting and preserving its fragile drinking water supply.”
