What Are Subsea Desalination Pods?
Instead of building massive coastal plants, OceanWell’s approach places sealed purification pods on the seafloor where hydrostatic pressure is already high. That pressure helps push seawater through reverse-osmosis membranes inside each pod, producing ultra-clean drinking water and returning diluted concentrate at depth, far from sensitive shoreline ecosystems.
Key Specs at a Glance
| Depth | ~400 m (≈1,300 ft) |
|---|---|
| Output per Pod | Up to ~1 million gallons/day (≈4,000 m³) |
| Planned Cluster (WF-1) | ~60 pods targeting ~60 MGD |
| Energy Profile | Targeting ~40% less energy than typical land-based RO |
| Location | ~4.5 miles offshore Malibu, in Santa Monica Bay |
| Ecology | Engineered intake safeguards for marine life; no large onshore plant |
MGD = million gallons per day.
How It Works (Simply)
1) Natural Pressure Does the Heavy Lifting
At ~400 m, the ocean provides the pressure gradient RO systems typically create with big pumps. That pressure forces seawater through semipermeable membranes, separating fresh water from salts and impurities.
2) Modular by Design
Each pod is a self-contained unit. Water agencies can add pods over time—growing capacity from a pilot (dozens of pods) toward a full “water farm” sized for a city’s needs.
3) Built for Durability & Low Visual Impact
Deep-sea placement avoids shoreline land use, storm surges, and many surface-level disruptions. Pods are designed with offshore-grade hardware for long-term operation and maintenance cycles.
Next-Gen Water Farms (Future Desalination Plants)
The first large cluster—nicknamed California Water Farm 1 (WF-1)—aims to demonstrate city-scale output with roughly sixty pods targeting ~60 million gallons per day. That’s enough to meaningfully diversify Southern California’s supplies during drought years while remaining largely invisible to coastal communities.
Because pods leverage ambient pressure, overall electricity needs are designed to be notably lower than conventional seawater RO. Integrating renewables onshore for intake/outfall pumps, controls, and distribution can reduce carbon intensity further.
Environmental Considerations
- Marine-Safe Intake: Specialized intake and flow-control systems are designed to protect organisms and minimize entrainment/impingement.
- Subsurface Brine Management: Return flows are dispersed at depth, reducing the risk of concentrated brine hotspots in sensitive coastal habitats.
- No Massive Coastal Plant: Eliminates a large, visible industrial footprint and associated construction disturbances on shore.
Why This Matters for California
Warmer, drier years strain imported water and local reservoirs. Subsea water farms provide a reliable, modular, drought-resilient supply that does not depend on snowpack or river allocations. For agencies, the ability to add pods in phases offers capital flexibility and a clear pathway to scale if population or climate stressors increase.
Who’s Involved & Where to Learn More
The pilot effort involves regional agencies led by the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District near Malibu. For a technical overview and public-sector context, explore:
• WF-1 Project Brief
• LVMWD Partnership Page
• Independent Coverage
FAQs
- How much water can a single pod produce?
- Up to ~1 million gallons per day, depending on local conditions and configuration.
- What’s the target capacity for the first water farm?
- About 60 MGD by deploying roughly sixty pods in Santa Monica Bay.
- Is it really more energy-efficient?
- By leveraging natural ocean pressure, the design targets ~40% lower energy use versus typical coastal seawater RO facilities.
- What about marine life?
- The intake and internal circulation are engineered to be marine-safe and avoid concentrated brine discharges near shore.