Desalination facilities have critics who claim it's too expensive and environmentally destructive, but there are supporters who want to make existing reverse osmosis technology better and many new ideas are being tested here in Southern California.
"The fact that this is here and it's just a space for innovation that's right on the coast, you have access to water that is completely different than if you try to make it in a lab. It's a great place for validation and innovation," said Madeleine White, an environmental engineer for the Engineering & Expeditionary Warfare Center.
A water technology company named SeaWell believes desalination will work best off shore, so they are testing their equipment at the Navy's sea water desalination test facility at Port Hueneme.
"Before we put it out of arm's length away out in the ocean, we have to have confidence that we know exactly how it's going to operate," explained Peter Stricker, the CEO of SeaWell.