News Releases
San Diego County Water Authority
News Release: April 19, 2005 |
Contact:
John Liarakos
Office (858) 522-6703
Mobile (858) 761-2544 |
or
Donna Nenow
Office (858) 522-6707
Mobile (858) 414-8168 |
Water Authority and city of Carlsbad release agreement on seawater desalination
project
Regional project agreement awaits Carlsbad city council and Water Authority
board approval
After several months of negotiations, staff from the city of Carlsbad and
the San Diego County Water Authority have reached a proposed interagency agreement
on the development of a regional seawater desalination facility. The facility,
to be located at the Encina Power Station in Carlsbad, would provide a new,
drought-proof source of water to the region, producing up to 80-million gallons
per day of treated water (up to 90,000 acre-feet annually).
"To improve the reliability of the region's water supply, it is critical
that we develop new local sources of water," said Maureen Stapleton, Water
Authority general manager. "The Water Authority is committed to ensuring
that one or more seawater desalination projects are built in San Diego County,
providing up to 15 percent of our region's water supply by 2020."
"Carlsbad is committed to helping assure the availability of water to a
growing customer base throughout the county while protecting our residents'
interests," said Jim Elliott, director of administrative services for Carlsbad.
"This agreement respects the long-term land use planning goals of Carlsbad
while meeting the region's goals of increased water reliability."
The proposed agreement requires approval by the Carlsbad city council, the Carlsbad
Municipal Water District, and the Carlsbad Housing and Redevelopment Commission.
The members of the Carlsbad city council comprise the governing boards of these
agencies. Carlsbad will consider the agreement on April 20. If approved by Carlsbad,
the Water Authority board of directors will consider the agreement on April
28.
The agreement between the Water Authority general manager and the Carlsbad city
manager addresses water supply and land use concerns of both parties. The agreement
will allow both agencies to move forward as partners, on a fair-share cost basis,
in the development of seawater desalination at Encina as both a regional supply
for the Water Authority and a local water supply for Carlsbad.
"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Water Authority that
gives voice to our population's needs, desires and vision," said Elliott.
"This agreement represents a significant milestone in making seawater desalination
a reality in San Diego County," said Stapleton. "This is an important
project for the region and a partnership between the Water Authority and Carlsbad
is the best way to achieve improved water reliability for all of San Diego County.
"The Water Authority is committed to developing a quality regional project
at a fair price that fits into Carlsbad's long-term vision," she said.
The Water Authority began studying the possibility of a seawater desalination
project at the Encina Power Station in 1991. In the last few years, the Water
Authority has been conducting detailed engineering and environmental studies
to determine the feasibility of a large scale project that would serve all of
San Diego County. Since 2001, Carlsbad has worked with a private developer,
Poseidon Resources of Stamford, Conn., on a water-purchase agreement to provide
a local water supply to its residents from a proposed privately owned and operated
seawater desalination plant located on a portion of the Encina Power Station.
The agreement between the Water Authority and Carlsbad focuses on a single regional
project that will allow delivery of desalinated seawater by the Water Authority
throughout San Diego County and provide a local supply for Carlsbad.
The proposed agreement provides specific, negotiated terms and conditions for
the development of a regional project at the Encina site. Both agencies will
work in close coordination in the preparation of the Water Authority's environmental
impact report and facility plans for the regional project. Carlsbad will purchase
up to 5,000 acre-feet of desalinated water per year. Carlsbad will pay the Water
Authority's full cost to produce desalinated water and the estimated cost of
delivering the desalinated water to Carlsbad's local distribution system. Any
grant funding received through the Metropolitan Water District or any state
and federal funding source for the project, will be shared proportionally.
The future facility is sited in a key coastal redevelopment area in Carlsbad.
The proposed agreement addresses the city's long-term vision to increase and
enhance coastal access along its central core. It includes approximately $21
million in improvements to the South Carlsbad Coastal Redevelopment Area that
will mitigate for project impacts near the plant, enhance visitor and resident
coastal access, provide recreational opportunities and improve traffic circulation
in the coastal area.
The agreement ensures that the public interest is best served by implementing
a regional project that uses competitive public procurement processes for the
construction of a seawater desalination plant and that project specifications,
construction inspection and project approvals are performed by the Water Authority
to ensure quality control.
Once both governing boards approve the agreement the Water Authority will engage
Poseidon Resources and Cabrillo Power 1, LLC in negotiations regarding their
roles in the development of the regional seawater desalination plant. Cabrillo
is the site host and owner of the Encina Power Station. Poseidon is proposing
development of a privately owned and operated seawater desalination project
and is the leaseholder on a potential site for desalination facilities at the
Encina Power Station.
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The San Diego County Water Authority is a public agency serving the San Diego
region as a wholesale supplier of water from the Colorado River and Northern
California. The Water Authority works through its 23 member agencies to provide
a safe, reliable water supply to support the region’s $142 billion economy
and the quality of life of 3 million residents.
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