Carlsbad Desalination Project

The Carlsbad desalination Project will provide San Diego County with a locally-controlled, drought-proof supply of high-quality water that meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards.

Public water agencies serving the cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, San Diego, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Escondido, Chula Vista, National City and the unincorporated communities of Rainbow, Bonsall and Fallbrook will be the direct beneficiaries of a new, affordable and reliable water supply developed at no expense to the region's taxpayers.

After ten years of planning and five years in the state’s permitting process, the Carlsbad Desalination Plant has now received final approvals from every required regulatory and permitting agency in the state, including the California Coastal Commission, State Lands Commission and Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The Carlsbad Desalination Project is scheduled to begin construction in 2009 and will be operational before the end of 2011.

The garibaldi is the official "marine fish" of the state of California and has a protected status in California coastal waters. The garibaldi thrive in the Agua Hedionda Lagoon thanks to the symbiotic relationship between the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and Power Plant's water-cooling system.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said of ocean desalination: "We need it. It's not a choice."

San Diego Union Tribune, 7/27/2006

News

Overview

The project is slated to be operational as early as 2011.
It would use state-of-the-art reverse osmosis water treatment technology manufactured in the San Diego region.
It would be located adjacent to the Encina Power Station
It would provide up to 56,000 acre-feet per year - enough for 300,000 residents of San Diego County.