The one-year anniversary of Carlsbad desalination plant provides an opportunity to look at its positive impact in the region, writes Mark Muir of the San Diego County Water Authority

WHEN THE NATION’S largest seawater desalination plant started commercial production last December, it was a historic victory for San Diego County and an entire drought-weary state.

One year later, the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant has produced nearly 15 billion gallons (57bn liters) of drinking water, representing the best of our collective efforts in California to solve complex and sometimes confounding water challenges.

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Internationally Acclaimed Claude ‘Bud’ Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant Provides Drought-Resilient Supplies 
 
Carlsbad, CA (Dec.14, 2016) –  In its first year of operations, the nation’s largest and most technologically advanced seawater desalination plant produced enough high-quality, drought-proof water from the Pacific Ocean to meet approximately 10 percent of the region’s demand. The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant quickly generated significant benefits by relieving pressure on imported water supplies, reducing state mandates for emergency conservation measures in March and helping the region pass the state’s stringent water supply “stress test” in June.
 
After completing construction on schedule, the plant was dedicated on Dec. 14, 2015, in front of more than 600 elected officials, community leaders and project partners. The facility – named after the late Carlsbad mayor who also served as Water Authority Board chair – soon garnered local and international accolades. It was honored in April 2016 with a Global Water Award as the Desalination Plant of the Year by Global Water Intelligence for “the most impressive technical or ecologically sustainable achievement in the industry.” In June, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association recognized the desalination project with its highest honor – the Grand Golden Watchdog – for “stretching taxpayer dollars through cooperation between the public and private sectors.” And in July, Poseidon was named an Energy Champion by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) for its “remarkable commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency and conservation.”