The desalination plant was scheduled to be operational by 2023 at a site adjacent to the AES Huntington Beach Power Station.

[6] The similar Carlsbad Desalination Plant has been operated by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners-owned Poseidon Water since 2015.

[9][10] Concerns were raised about the large amounts of electricity that would be required and that the site could be impacted by sea level rise which could cut it off from surrounding areas by flooding.

[9] The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board hearing in April 2021, that focused on required environmental mitigations, approved a permit for the project.

[15][16] Concerns about the project included how raising rates would make drinking water less affordable for disadvantaged households in the county and the significant impact on marine life.