Award: Groundwater Desalter Expansion
Value: $160 Million
Location: Torrance, California
Client: Water Replenishment District of Southern California

Jacobs and McCarthy Building Cos. are further expanding their presence in the water sector through a joint venture in Southern California.

The Water Replenishment District of Southern California has awarded a $160 million design-build contract to a joint venture between Dallas-based Jacobs and St. Louis-based McCarthy for the expansion of the Torrance Groundwater Desalter, as stated in a Nov. 25 news release.

This project will enhance the capacity of the Robert W. Goldsworthy Desalter facility, enabling it to treat up to an additional 9 million gallons of brackish water per day. The facility will utilize reverse osmosis membrane technology to remove salts from extracted groundwater and produce high-quality drinking water, according to the release.

The initiative is a key part of WRD’s Brackish Groundwater Reclamation Program and contributes to its broader Win 4 All initiative, which is focused on creating resilient, local water supplies. Jacobs emphasized that the progressive design-build contract for the project would optimize efficiency and cost management.

“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,” said Katus Watson, senior vice president at Jacobs, in the release.

The scope of work also includes the installation of new groundwater extraction wells and raw water pipelines. The Jacobs-McCarthy team anticipates the facility will be fully operational by 2027.

This award continues to build on Jacobs’ momentum in the water sector, which was highlighted in the company’s recent fourth-quarter report. CEO Bob Pragada noted that water projects were a significant driver of double-digit growth across Jacobs’ portfolio during the firm’s earnings call.