Design and Construction Report staff writer
The Water Replenishment District (WRD) and the City of Torrance marked a major milestone this week with a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Torrance Groundwater Desalter Expansion Project (TGDEP), a significant investment aimed at strengthening local water supplies and reducing the South Bay’s dependence on imported water.
Construction of the expansion is being led through a progressive design-build partnership involving McCarthy Building Companies and Jacobs.
“McCarthy and Jacobs are proud to support the City of Torrance in expanding the Torrance Groundwater Desalter, nearly doubling the facility’s capacity and eliminating the community’s dependence on imported drinking water,” said Sagrado Sparks, Vice President of Operations for McCarthy. “As progressive design-build partners, we are thrilled to help bring this solution to the Torrance community, strengthening the region’s clean drinking water supply and advancing Southern California’s water resiliency efforts.”
Construction is well underway, and the facility is expected to be commissioned in 2029.
“This is how communities get ahead of water challenges,” said Jacobs Executive Vice President Tom Meinhart. “Breaking ground on the Torrance Groundwater Desalter Expansion puts that vision into action. Through an advanced, collaborative delivery model, we’re advancing how California communities secure local, reliable water.”
WRD officials described the project as one of the most significant water infrastructure investments currently underway in Southern Los Angeles County and the agency’s largest capital project to date.
“The Torrance Groundwater Desalter Expansion Project is one of the most significant water infrastructure investments currently underway in Southern Los Angeles County and is WRD’s largest capital project to date,” said WRD General Manager Stephan Tucker. “We are grateful for the support of our state and federal funding partners who recognize the importance of local water supply development, climate resilience, and long-term water security.”
The project represents the next phase of WRD’s Brackish Groundwater Reclamation Program (BGRP), an ambitious effort to transform brackish groundwater into a reliable source of drinking water for communities throughout the South Bay. The expansion will increase the capacity of the Robert W. Goldsworthy Desalter, allowing it to produce up to 7,100 acre-feet—or approximately 2.3 billion gallons—of high-quality drinking water annually once completed.
“Since 2001, the Torrance Groundwater Desalter has proven that brackish groundwater can be transformed into potable water for Torrance residents,” said WRD Director Rob Katherman during the ceremony. “Today, we celebrate the next phase of our Brackish Groundwater Reclamation Program and reclaim additional portions of the 14-square-mile plume that remains in the basin.”
The BGRP seeks to convert a vast 14-square-mile brackish groundwater plume beneath the West Coast Basin into a sustainable drinking water resource while creating additional groundwater storage capacity. The initiative is designed to improve regional water reliability and strengthen resilience against drought and climate-related challenges.
Under the long-standing partnership, WRD owns the desalter facility while the City of Torrance operates it, creating a collaborative model that benefits residents across the South Bay.
“With this expansion, the facility will nearly double its capacity while helping address longstanding groundwater challenges in the South Bay,” said Torrance Mayor George Chen. “Today, we break ground, but more importantly, we invest in a stronger and more secure future for the South Bay.”
