Photo by Joe Caione on Unsplash
California is preparing to launch the nation’s first subsea desalination initiative, which will deploy dozens of water-harvesting pods across the ocean floor. The large-scale effort is designed to generate around 60 million gallons (227 million liters) of fresh water daily.
Climate Challenges Driving Innovation
Rising temperatures have made it increasingly difficult for California to maintain stable water reserves. Reservoirs lose water quickly through evaporation, reduced snowfall diminishes runoff, the Colorado River continues to shrink, and droughts are becoming more frequent and severe. To address this, a new project aims to tap into the Pacific Ocean, drawing fresh drinking water from the vast resource off the state’s western coastline.
OceanWell, a water technology company, recently announced the Water Farm 1 (WF1) project in partnership with the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD), which supplies about 70,000 residents in western Los Angeles County. Six additional California water agencies have joined the collaboration.
Submerging Pods Beneath the Pacific
The plan involves submerging approximately 60 modular pods at a depth of about 1,300 ft (400 m) in Santa Monica Bay, near Malibu. At that depth, immense natural pressure forces seawater through pod filters using reverse osmosis.
These ultra-fine filters block not only salt but also microplastics, viruses, bacteria, and PFAS—commonly known as “forever chemicals.” Each pod is capable of producing one million gallons of purified water per day, without mechanical pumping, marine disruption, or heavy energy consumption. OceanWell estimates the system cuts energy use by 40% compared to conventional desalination plants. By 2030, the subsea facility is expected to deliver 60 million gallons of clean drinking water daily, with plans for future expansion.
OceanWell
“California, like many regions worldwide, urgently needs new water sources as traditional supplies decline,” said Robert Bergstrom, CEO of OceanWell. “Water Farm 1 proves we can responsibly and economically harvest fresh water from the ocean, even under threats like shrinking snowpacks, worsening droughts, extreme storms, seawater intrusion, and depleted groundwater. This project marks a key milestone in OceanWell’s mission to add one million acre-feet of potable water to the global supply within the next decade.”
Building on Pilot Project Success
The WF1 project builds on a March 2025 pilot conducted with LVMWD, which validated the efficiency of OceanWell’s underwater filtration pods.
As development progresses, partner agencies will conduct feasibility studies on connecting WF1 output to existing water systems, while OceanWell’s Tribal and Environmental Working Groups continue to review pilot results. These efforts will help determine the scale of the pod network and ensure the project aligns with ecological and community priorities.
Beyond serving LVMWD residents, WF1 will also benefit other partners, including the city of Burbank.
Water Exchange Through Regional Partnerships
Burbank cannot directly access Pacific Ocean water,” explained Richard Wilson of Burbank Water and Power. “However, through this consortium, we are working with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) to create an exchange system. Burbank will cover the cost of OceanWell water delivered to partner agencies, and that water can then be traded through MWD’s existing network.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
Read more: Twin Dragons Provide New Insights Into Reptile Sex Determination