[hedora]

The wording of that quote is pathologically bad. I think it is trying to say saying potable desalinated water from the plant is 0.32 cents per gallon, and recycled is 0.045 cents per gallon.

It cites a hit piece from Fox News Radio with equally confusing numbers.

Anyway, the Fox article says it will cost $1000-1400 (or maybe $1500 because they inflate the number as they go) per acre foot. At $1500, that's 0.46 cents per gallon, which is about 10-15x more than people currently pay to flood irrigate fields. Flood irrigation is notoriously wasteful.

Anyway, tap water costs about 1 cent per gallon in San Jose. These desalination plants could affordably provide water for residential use.