6 Million Gallons a Day: Award Winning Infrastructure Strengthens Antioch’s Water Future

When the San Joaquin River becomes too salty to drink, Antioch can still produce 6 million gallons of safe drinking water every day.

That impact is at the heart of the Antioch Brackish Water Desalination Project, recently recognized with the 2026 ASCE Golden Gate Branch Outstanding Environmental Engineering Project Award.

As drought conditions and changing water availability increasingly affect California communities, the City of Antioch faced a critical challenge: how to maintain a reliable drinking water supply when saltwater from San Francisco Bay advances farther inland and impacts river water quality.

Shimmick helped solve that challenge by constructing the Bay Area’s first desalination facility in the California Delta. The new reverse osmosis treatment system enables the City to maintain a reliable supply of safe drinking water, even during periods of elevated salinity, helping secure the community’s water future for decades to come.

The achievement extends beyond water production. Environmental stewardship was integrated throughout the project, including fish friendly intake screens and responsible management of concentrated brine to help reduce impacts on the surrounding ecosystem.

Delivering this solution also required overcoming significant engineering and construction challenges. Shimmick constructed a new river intake and pump station directly on the San Joaquin River, upgraded decades old infrastructure, and integrated new systems into an operating water treatment plant that continued serving the community throughout construction.

Delivering the project required the team to navigate complex engineering, construction, and operational constraints while integrating new infrastructure into an active water treatment facility. Through coordination and problem-solving, the team maintained progress and uninterrupted water service throughout construction.

This award recognizes more than engineering excellence. It recognizes the collaboration, innovation, and disciplined execution required to deliver critical infrastructure that protects an essential resource, strengthens community resilience, and prepares Antioch for the challenges of tomorrow.