Post Date: 03/28/2025 7:06 AM

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD), together with tech start-up OceanWell, launched a first-of-its-kind fresh water harvesting system at the District’s Las Virgenes Reservoir on March 21. The event showcased OceanWell's proprietary submerged water filtration technology, which may potentially provide a stable, scalable and climate-resilient source of water in the near future.

The launch brought together elected officials, environmental organizations, other water agencies, and regional, and state leaders. Guests were treated to a demonstration by OceanWell engineers and were able to see the OceanWell “pod” submerged in the water. LVMWD General Manager David W. Pedersen and OceanWell CEO Robert Bergstrom shared a taste of the product water produced from the pod.

 “Through our partnership with OceanWell, we’re incredibly excited to challenge the conventional thinking that ocean desalination and environmental stewardship cannot go hand-in-hand. We’re uncompromising in our pursuit to develop a new supply of drought-resilient water, while protecting the natural environment that we love and cherish in California,” said Pedersen.

OceanWell is developing deep-sea water farms comprised of pods that harness the natural weight of the ocean at depths of 400 meters (1,300 feet) to drive the reverse osmosis process. Each purification pod has the potential to harvest up to one million gallons of fresh water daily from both saltwater and freshwater bodies, which made the Las Virgenes Reservoir an ideal location for the pilot.

This technology produces ultra-clean water by filtering out salts, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS, while its components are engineered for durability in harsh deep-sea environments. Unlike traditional industrial desalination that is energy-intensive and can harm marine life, OceanWell's technology reduces energy consumption by up to 40%, while protecting marine life and eliminating a concentrated brine stream.

Testing the technology in a reservoir demonstrates the effectiveness of the system’s LifeSafe™ intake in highly bio-active conditions, which are more challenging than in the deep ocean. This phased approach helps fine-tune each stage of the system, paving the way for reliable, and scalable deployment in the ocean.

“Access to abundant clean water is critical to the vitality of our communities,” said Robert Bergstrom, CEO of OceanWell. “We’re thrilled to have an opportunity to partner with Las Virgenes to take the first step in building climate-resilient water supplies in the U.S. and abroad. This will enable us to make significant progress towards commercial readiness and serving millions of people.”

The technology is particularly promising for the Las Virgenes – Conejo region, which experienced record drought in recent years, and disproportionate impacts on water supply availability, due to the reliance on imported water. On the heels of unprecedented outdoor water use restrictions, the LVMWD Board of Directions pledged to pursue any and all sources of new water supply for the region.

“During the last drought, we fielded countless questions about why we weren’t looking to the ocean as a source of drinking water, and I’m proud to say that we’ve found an environmentally sensitive path to ocean desalination with OceanWell,” stated LVMWD Board President Andy Coradeschi. “This partnership is the next step in ensuring that we will continue to thrive in our region in the face of increasing climate variability.”

OceanWell has redesigned sourcing fresh water from the ocean into a clean, elegant solution that harvests affordable, abundant, fresh water. Its modular deep-sea water farm technology uses hydrostatic ocean pressure at depths of 400m+ to naturally power the reverse osmosis process and make fresh water. Recently garnering $11 million in Series A funding – with participation from Kubota Corporation – OceanWell is supported by a working group of 25 municipal water agencies in California and aims to build 15 water farms across the globe in the next decade.

View the electronic program from the Beyond the Surface Event.