BAYSHORE – Residents of Bacliff/San Lon turned out this week at Bayshore Town Square to learn more about a proposed seawater desalination plant — a project city and utility EPCOR says could provide a reliable water source during extreme weather or water shortages.

The meeting aimed to give locals an opportunity to ask questions directly and understand the potential impact of the plant on the environment, the community, and daily life along the bay.

Dr. Gina Smith, one of the organizers of the event, emphasized the importance of transparency. “The goal was to help with transparency and also to get information out into our community so that people understood what was going on,” she said. “This area really requires community leaders, people who live here, to be able to help, provide information.”

Several residents raised concerns about how the plant could affect marine life and recreational use of the bay. “I live on the water… our daughter likes to go fishing. Are there still going to be fish? Are those fish safe to eat? Are there going to still be dolphins?” Smith asked. She noted that many families in the area have lived here for generations and want to ensure the bay remains safe and accessible.

Tony Poynor, a member of the Baycliff Municipal Utility District water board, said the event also aimed to counter misinformation circulating about the project. “A lot of disinformation has come about the desalination plant, whether it’s going to be bad for the ecosystem or raise water prices,” he said. “One of the issues [tonight] was to take the myths of some of the misinformation and give facts.”

Poynor added that the project could help prevent water shortages during emergencies. “I think it’ll affect residents when there’s a water shortage. If we don’t have another alternative water source… this plant would prevent that,” he said, citing previous freeze events where local water supplies were disrupted.

EPCOR stressed that community engagement will continue as the project progresses. “We need to have more people who are able to gather together information… if we don’t speak up, nobody will,” Smith said.

EPCOR says the desalination plant would be designed to meet strict environmental standards and minimize impacts on the bay, while providing a secure water source for residents and businesses in the area. More meetings are expected in the coming months to provide updates and collect feedback from the community.