The ultimate drought buster?

California is being socked by a water shortage, so we need every drop we can get. There's news today of some possible relief from the ocean. From the Associated Press:

A state panel has approved a lease of state property that will allow construction of the Western Hemisphere’s largest desalination plant north of San Diego. Passage by the California State Lands Commission was a key hurdle for the $300-million project. Members voted unanimously Friday in favor of the proposal, which aims to turn millions of gallons of sea water into drinking water. Poseidon Resources Corp. hopes to break ground next year and eventually produce about 10 percent of San Diego County’s water supply — enough for 300,000 people.

Also: Check out the video and article by The Times' Rich Connell and Robert J. Lopez showing water wasting by the city of L.A. It got a response: "Responding to a Times video that showed city agencies wasting water last week, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa firmly ordered city officials to conduct ongoing audits of water use by all departments, saying he will publicly release the results, including any violations of the city's new 'drought buster' restrictions."

—Shelby Grad

Photo: Veronique de Turenne / Los Angeles Times