Local, state and federal representatives of San Diego County have expressed support for the purchase of water produced by the Carlsbad Desalination Project. The project is a seawater desalination plant that will provide about seven per cent of the region’s water supply, reducing dependence on imported water and significantly improving water reliability in the region.
Mayors Jerry Sanders of San Diego, Matt Hall of Carlsbad, Jim Wood of Oceanside, Art Madrid of La Mesa, Judy Ritter of Vista and Jim Desmond of San Marcos have all sent letters to the County Water Authority board supporting the agency’s Water Purchase Agreement with Poseidon Resources, the plant’s developer.
“The County Water Authority staff’s great diligence in negotiations with Poseidon Resources has resulted in a contract that insulates the CWA, member agencies and our ratepayers from downside risk in this public-private partnership,” wrote Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood in a letter to the CWA board. “This project has received extensive public vetting, including dozens of public meetings over the past several years that ultimately assisted with shaping a project that satisfies our region’s need for a drought-proof, local supply at a reasonable cost to ratepayers.”