San Diego approves deal with Carlsbad desal plant

The San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) has approved a 30-year deal with Poseidon Resources LLC (Stamford, CT) whereby SDCWA will purchase water from a 50 million gallon per day (mgd) seawater desalination plant under development by Poseidon in Carlsbad, California. The approval of the deal is widely seen as the final major step allowing Poseidon to line up financing for the $984 million project and to begin construction early next year. Under the deal, SDCWA will pay $2,042 to $2,290 per acre-foot of water, which is estimated to be more than twice what it would cost to bring water to the region from northern California or the Colorado River. Proponents say that the premium is worth the added water security. “It’s absolutely critical to our region’s water reliability and economic stability,” said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. “It’s another historic step toward making us less vulnerable to drought and the severe competition for water that we import.”