DALLAS, Nov. 18, 2024 — The McCarthy-Jacobs joint venture has been selected to design and build the Torrance Groundwater Desalter Expansion, a key element of the Water Replenishment District (WRD) of Southern California’s Brackish Groundwater Reclamation Program, as part of the broader “WIN 4 ALL” initiative. The project will treat saltwater from the West Coast Groundwater Basin to provide a more resilient and local drinking water supply for over 88,000 residents, reducing dependence on imported water.

The expanded desalination facility will utilize reverse osmosis membrane technology to remove salts from extracted groundwater, producing high-quality drinking water. The project is expected to introduce a potentially groundbreaking combination of nano-filtration and reverse osmosis treatment for a municipal brackish water facility. With a budgeted capital cost of approximately $160 million, the expansion will increase the capacity of the Robert W. Goldsworthy Desalter Facility, providing up to 9 million gallons of additional drinking water per day, with full-scale production expected by 2027.

“Jacobs and McCarthy bring innovative water treatment solutions, paired with design-build experience to create a highly skilled team for this significant groundwater desalination project in Southern California,” said Katus Watson, Senior Vice President at Jacobs. “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 that will provide a sustainable drinking water supply for the near term and well into the future.”

The project’s scope also includes the construction of new groundwater extraction wells and raw water pipelines.

“As water resources in the West are increasingly strained, advanced water treatment technologies are providing excellent solutions for communities like Torrance to ensure a sustainable and resilient water supply,” said Sagrado Sparks, McCarthy’s Water Group Vice President. “Projects like this are proactively addressing water supply issues through proven technologies and continue to position California as a leader in protecting and preserving its fragile drinking water supply.”

About Jacobs

‍Ranked No. 1 in Sewer & Waste and No.1 in Program Management by Engineering News-Record, Jacobs delivers complex, challenging, and transformative infrastructure programs. The company has been involved in high-profile projects such as Southern California’s Pure Water Project Las Virgenes-Triunfo and the Thames Tideway Tunnel in the U.K.

About McCarthy

‍McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is the oldest privately held national construction company in the U.S., with a focus on safety, quality, and value-driven construction. McCarthy has nearly 160 years of experience in solving complex building challenges, with offices across the U.S. and a commitment to excellence in all phases of construction.