On March 21, 2025, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD) and water tech company OceanWell, will launch a first-of-its-kind pilot to harvest fresh water directly from the reservoir. First announced in 2023, this initiative aims to prove the efficacy of OceanWell's proprietary water purification technology, and ultimately, provide a stable, climate-resilient source of water for a region that has been hard-hit by drought in recent years. 

 OceanWell’s technology offers an environment first approach to desalination, using the weight of the ocean to drive the reverse osmosis process. This method significantly reduces energy consumption and costs, while mitigating negative environmental impacts commonly associated with traditional onshore desalination systems. This technology can be used in fresh, brackish, or saltwater environments.

 The pilot launch will feature remarks by leaders from OceanWell, LVMWD, elected officials, and more. Attendees will be able to watch the pod enter the reservoir and view a display comparing the water purified through the pod beside the untreated reservoir water. 

Featured Speakers:

Tina Calderon, Representative of Tongva/Chumash Tribes

Dave Pedersen, General Manager LVMWD

Robert Bergstrom, CEO OceanWell

Andy Coradeschi, LVMWD Board President

Jay Lewitt, LVMWD Board member and MWD Rep

Deven Upadhyay, General Manager MWD

Michael Camacho, Board Vice Chair MWD

Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-CA 44)

Sean Maguire, Board Member SWRCB

Caty Wagner, Water Campaign Manager LA Chapter of Sierra Club

Kristine McCaffrey, Calleguas MWD General Manager

Senator Ben Allen (D-CA 24)

Hiro Kuge, M.S. Technology Manager KUBOTA Water and Environment U.S.A Corp.  

Tim Quinn, OceanWell Water Policy Strategist

Distinguished Guests