CARLSBAD, California (Press Release)– The Carlsbad Desalination Project was recognized for “stretching taxpayer dollars through cooperation between the public and private sectors” by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association at the organization’s 21st Annual Golden Watchdog & Fleece Awards last Thursday at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. Poseidon Water and the San Diego County Water Authority received the Grand Golden Watchdog for the project and the unique collaboration that made it possible.
The Carlsbad Desalination Plant is operated by IDE Technologies, an Israeli-based company with extensive experience developing, engineering and operating advanced desalination facilities, including some of the world’s largest plants in Israel.
Three main components comprise the $1 billion desalination project: the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant adjacent to NRG Energy’s Encina Power Station on Agua Hedionda Lagoon; a 10-mile pipeline that connects to the Water Authority’s regional distribution system; and upgrades to the Water Authority’s facilities for distributing desalinated seawater throughout the region.
“Efforts to bring a seawater desalination plant to Carlsbad began in the mid-1990s, long before the current drought began in Southern California,” said Carlos Riva, chief executive officer of Poseidon Water. “Poseidon Water is proud to be recognized by the Taxpayers Association for working with the San Diego County Water Authority to turn this innovative idea into a reality and create a drought-proof supply of water that will serve the region for decades.”
At Thursday’s event, Riva was joined by Mark Muir, vice chair of the Water Authority’s Board of Directors, and Maureen Stapleton, the general manager of the Water Authority, to accept the award in front of more than 500 attendees, including dozens of longtime project supporters.
“Due to this desalination plant and other forward-thinking efforts by the Water Authority, we don’t have a dry well here in San Diego County,” said Muir, thanking the Taxpayers Association and the region’s water ratepayers for their support. “While there may be a drought, we have a sustainable, reliable water supply.”
The Carlsbad project is the result of a 30-year Water Purchase Agreement signed in 2012 between the plant’s developer and owner, Poseidon Water, and the Water Authority for the production of up to 56,000 acre-feet of water per year. The agreement provided assurances that Poseidon needed to secure funding for plant construction, most of which came from the sale of private bonds and nearly $200 million in private equity from Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners. It also allowed the Water Authority to protect the region’s water ratepayers by shifting appropriate construction and operation risks to Poseidon. The agreement effectively balances private and public interests, requiring the Water Authority to pay only for water that is produced according to pre-set quality and quantity standards, while providing Poseidon with a return on its investment.
The largest seawater desalination plant in the nation, the Carlsbad plant started commercial operations in December 2015. It is a key piece of the Water Authority’s long-term strategy to diversify its water supply sources. The plant uses reverse osmosis membrane technology to produce approximately 10 percent of the region’s water supply; it is a core supply regardless of weather conditions, and it is blended with water from other sources for regional distribution.
The Golden Watchdog & Fleece Awards is the San Diego County Taxpayers Association’s signature annual event. The Watchdog Awards, including the Grand Golden Watchdog Award, “honor programs that exemplify efficient use of tax dollars.” Past winners of the Grand Golden Watchdog Award include the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s Veterans Moving Forward program, the County of San Diego’s Multi-Discipline Graffiti Abatement program and the City of San Diego’s Pension Reform and Tough Cuts to Compensation efforts.
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