Regional water infrastructure investment in Southern California continues to accelerate as public agencies expand local supply capacity and reduce dependence on imported water sources. The Torrance Groundwater Desalter Expansion Project represents a significant municipal water construction program aimed at increasing groundwater treatment and long-term supply reliability in the South Bay region.
The Water Replenishment District of Southern California and the City of Torrance recently marked the start of major construction activities for the expansion of the Robert W. Goldsworthy Desalter facility. McCarthy Building Companies and Jacobs are serving as delivery partners on the project under a collaborative design-build arrangement.
The Torrance Groundwater Desalter Expansion Project is part of the Water Replenishment District’s broader Brackish Groundwater Reclamation Program, which targets treatment and recovery of brackish groundwater within the West Coast Basin.
Upon completion, the expanded facility is expected to produce up to 7,100 acre-feet of drinking water annually, equivalent to approximately 2.3 billion gallons. Project stakeholders stated the expansion will nearly double the facility’s current production capacity.
The work also supports remediation and management of a 14-square-mile brackish groundwater plume in the basin while increasing regional groundwater storage flexibility.
The Water Replenishment District owns the facility, while the City of Torrance will continue operating the treatment plant.
Project officials reported that more than $82 million in grant funding and low-interest loans has been secured to support construction and infrastructure delivery.
Funding sources include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program administered through the California State Water Resources Control Board, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART desalination program, California Proposition 1 water desalination funding, and support from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
McCarthy Building Companies and Jacobs are delivering the project using a progressive design-build model intended to support coordination between engineering, construction, and municipal stakeholders during execution.
Construction is currently underway, with commissioning targeted for 2029.
Municipal agencies across California continue to increase investment in groundwater recovery, desalination, recycled water, and treatment infrastructure as drought conditions and imported water reliability remain ongoing concerns for water providers and public owners.
Projects focused on groundwater treatment and local supply generation are becoming increasingly important for municipalities seeking to improve long-term resilience while addressing regulatory and environmental requirements tied to water sustainability.
Collaborative delivery methods such as progressive design-build are also gaining traction on complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects because they allow owners to engage contractors and designers earlier in project development.
For construction owners and infrastructure contractors, the Torrance Groundwater Desalter Expansion Project highlights continued demand for large-scale water treatment construction across California and the western United States.
The project also demonstrates the growing role of alternative delivery methods and public funding partnerships in advancing municipal water infrastructure programs. Contractors specializing in water and wastewater construction may continue to see opportunities tied to groundwater treatment, desalination, and regional supply resiliency initiatives as utilities pursue long-term investment strategies.
Source: McCarthy.
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