San Diego Water

Water Sources, 2003

• 85% MWD
• 8% Conservation
• 4% Local Surface Water
• 3% Groundwater
• 2% Recycled water

Water Sources, 2010

• 44% MWD
• 11% Local Surface Water
• 9% Conservation
• 9% Canal lining Transfer
• 8% IID Transfer
• 7% Seawater Desalination
• 6% Groundwater
• 6% Recycled water

Local Sources

• San Diego only receives about 10 inches of rain per year.
• The city uses about 27,200 Acre-Feet of local water per year.
• Reservoirs hold local water sources for use.
• San Diego has 9 reservoirs with a total capacity of 415,939 Acre-Feet.

Imported water

• San Diego imports water from the San Diego Water Authority who purchases water from the Metropolitan Water District(MWD).
• The MWD imports Colorado River water from Lake Havasu via a 242 mile aqueduct.
• Only a small portion of the imported water is treated and comes from the Lake Skinner treatment plant.

State Water Project

• Water from the State Water Projects comes from Northern California via a 444 mile long aqueduct.
• The water comes from south of the Delta to contractors such as the Metropolitan Water District.
• Water From the State Water Projects and the Colorado River is blended before being sent to treatment facilities or reservoirs.

Recycled Water

• The City Of San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Department collects wastewater from san Diego and surrounding cities and treats it.
• Three wastewater treatment plants: Point Loma Water Treatment Facility, North City Water Reclamation Plant, South Bay Water Reclamation Plant.
• Approximately 180 million gallons of waste water is treated everyday.
• Water not approved for reuse is dumped into the ocean after extensive treatment.

Water Storage

• San Diego’s reservoirs are used not only for capturing water, but for storing water for emergency supply.
• Water storage fluctuates throughout the year.
• Store surplus imported water during the winter for summer and store local water in winter for summer.
• Storing water increases reliability of water supply by ensuring there is water available when supplies may be limited (ex. Summer months when there is little precipitation).

Conservation

• San Diego County Water Authority, and MWD support conservation efforts.
• San Diego County Water Authority has run campaigns for conservation in the past, but has found bigger campaigns may be necessary.
• In 1985 San Diego’s city council established a Water Conservation Program.
• Through this program, approximately 30,000 AF of potable water is saved each year.
• Programs that the Water Conservation Program uses to increase water conservation efforts: Landscape watering calculator, Mr Fizzle’s World of Water, Rinse n’ Save, Ultra-Low Flush Toilet incentives, Public Education.

• “market-based exchanges of water from willing sellers to willing buyers.”
• It is estimated that through additional water transfers, the Water Authority and The Metropolitan could increase the water supply by 24,000 acre-feet.
• Types of water transfers: Spot transfers, Options transfers, Core Transfers, Storage transfers, Water exchanges.
• Wheeling: using water delivery systems belonging to someone else.
• Example: the transfer from, Western Water Company. The water purchased saved San Diego about $160,000 compared to what they would have spent had they purchased the same amount form the Water Authority.
• Example: in 2003 the IID and San Diego County Water Authority entered a 75 year agreement to transfer water from the IID to the Water Authority.

Desalination

• Sea water can be treated to remove minerals (salt).
• Desalinization is very costly: estimated capital cost for an 8.9 million gallons per day plant is approximately $57.2 million, fixed operating costs would be $1.7 million and variable operating costs would be $638 per acre-foot. Additionally the cost for establishing a distribution system would be $5 million and $0.5 million annually for operations.
• Ultimately the cost per acre-foot of water would be $1,400.
• Desalinization plants require large amounts of energy.
• Environmental impacts are an issue of concern.

Marine Transport

• Transportation of water from as far away as Alaska.
• Water would be transported in large oil rigs or in large plastic bags pulled behind ships.
• Minimal impact on environment.
• Cost would be approximately $730 per AF.