Voice of San Diego
by MacKenzie Elmer
Facing rising costs and rates, the leaders of San Diego’s water lifelines are looking to sell some of its most expensive supply: de-salted ocean water from a massive plant in Carlsbad. But, at the same time, they’re also trying to make more of it.
Dan Denham, the San Diego County Water Authority’s new general manager, says he wants to expand seawater desalination not because he thinks San Diego needs more water, but because he thinks they can sell it and recoup at least a little of the massive investment local rate payers have made on the plant. It’s Denham’s latest move to try and position San Diego to be a water dealer across the drought-stricken West.
“We’re looking to expand the plant as an opportunity for users, whether that’s in southern California or the lower Colorado River basin,” Denham said.
Last May, the Water Authority’s government relations team connected with Democrat Rep. Mike Levin’s staffers about securing money from the Inflation Reduction Act funding ($4.6 billion of which the Biden Administration dedicated toward resolving drought on the Colorado River) to ramp up production at the plant, according to emails obtained by Voice of San Diego.
