Council approves solar and roof projects, purchase agreement for desalination buoy
The council also approved a purchase order from Oneka Technologies Inc. for the wave-powered desalination pilot project. … The city relies on the Noyo River, Waterfall Gulch, and Newman Gulch to provide water to residents. However, in recent years, droughts have strained these water sources. The city has focused on increasing water storage, such as recent purchases like Summers Lane Reservoir. However, the city is looking into alternatives, such as water desalination, to ensure abundant water. Oneka’s desalination modules rely on wave power to remove salt. These units are 20 feet in diameter and can process 13,000 gallons of water daily. As they rely on waves, they have a minimal greenhouse gas impact.