A major infrastructure project now underway in Torrance could significantly increase the amount of drinking water produced locally for the city and surrounding South Bay communities.

The Water Replenishment District of Southern California and the City of Torrance have broken ground on the Torrance Groundwater Desalter Expansion Project, an effort designed to convert more brackish groundwater into clean, usable drinking water.

The expansion involves the Robert W. Goldsworthy Desalter, which has treated groundwater for Torrance since 2001. When the new facilities are completed, the project is expected to nearly double the plant’s capacity and purify up to 7,100 acre-feet—or approximately 2.3 billion gallons—of drinking water each year.

Brackish groundwater contains more salt than freshwater but less than seawater. Advanced treatment equipment removes the salt and other impurities so the water can enter the municipal drinking-water system.

The project also addresses a roughly 14-square-mile plume of brackish groundwater within the West Coast Basin. By treating that water, regional agencies can create a new local supply while freeing additional underground storage capacity for future use.

That is particularly important because Southern California traditionally depends heavily on water imported from distant sources. Drought, climate conditions, regulatory restrictions and aging infrastructure can all affect the reliability and cost of those supplies.

Officials say the Torrance expansion will help diversify the region’s water portfolio and make the South Bay more resilient during future shortages or emergencies.

The Water Replenishment District owns the facility, while the City of Torrance operates it. The partnership has secured more than $82 million in grants and low-interest loans from state, federal and environmental funding programs.

Construction is already underway, and the expanded facility is expected to be commissioned in 2029.

Although much of the work will occur out of public view, the finished project could have a lasting impact on the reliability of Torrance’s drinking-water supply for decades to come.

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