As water scarcity looms for desert cities like Phoenix and Tucson, San Diego County is poised to offer a unique solution by leveraging its abundant water reserves from the nation’s largest desalination facility. This move could mark the first instance of San Diego selling its water to neighboring states, providing much-needed relief to regions dependent on the over-burdened Colorado River.
The San Diego County Water Authority’s board recently gave a green light to an initial agreement that would enable the sale of water to Arizona and Nevada. These states are anticipating significant reductions in their Colorado River water supplies due to ongoing drought conditions exacerbated by climate change.
Rather than physically transferring desalinated water, the proposal involves selling a portion of San Diego’s Colorado River allotment, with revenue generated to boost production at the Carlsbad desalination plant. General Manager Dan Denham emphasized the need for such innovative water management strategies, stating, “It’s just a different way of managing water in the West.”
The Colorado River is a critical water source for seven states and northern Mexico, but its reservoirs have been diminishing over the past 25 years. Despite prolonged discussions, states remain divided on the necessary water cutbacks to protect reservoir levels, as reported in a recent newsletter.
The agreement, a memorandum of understanding, requires approval from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, federal entities, and agencies in Arizona and Nevada. Following approval, specific terms would be negotiated among the water agencies involved.
San Diego County has secured its water supply through investments in the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant and a 2003 agriculture-to-urban transfer deal. Despite securing these resources, the region faces some of the highest water costs in California.
Currently, the Carlsbad desalination plant operates below capacity. However, Denham noted that out-of-state funds could justify increasing its output, making the operation more economical for local ratepayers. Conservation efforts and upcoming wastewater recycling projects, including San Diego’s Pure Water initiative, are also expected to reduce regional water demands.
Should the agreements proceed, San Diego is prepared to supply up to 10,000 acre-feet of water next year, which is nearly 5% of Las Vegas’s current water usage. Future expansions could see this figure rise to 25,000 acre-feet, with potential upgrades at the desalination plant further increasing capacity.
Denham expressed optimism, stating, “It’s in everyone’s best interest to make this work.” His sentiment is echoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has advocated for collaborative water recycling and desalination investments in a recent letter to fellow governors.
While the Metropolitan Water District’s board has yet to vote, its general manager Shivaji Deshmukh highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, stating, “These kinds of concepts are what we need to do in regards to thinking about water resources, not from political boundaries, but as a region.” If successful, this initiative could serve as a model for inter-state collaboration in addressing the Colorado River’s growing water deficit.
Original Story at www.latimes.com