For more than 80 years, the Water Authority and its 22 member agencies have worked together to deliver safe and reliable water to sustain our economy – from biotech and farming to tourism and outdoor sports.
Despite climate challenges and a limited local water supply, strategic investments ensure that water continues flowing to support our homes, businesses, and economy.
What most people don’t know is where that water comes from. The region relies on a diversified water supply to ensure long-term reliability. The majority—about 61%—comes from the Colorado River, secured through conservation efforts in the Imperial Valley, where water savings from farms and canals are transferred to San Diego.
Local supplies, including seawater desalination, recycled water, water purification, and brackish groundwater, make up 33% of the region’s water. The remaining 6% comes from the State Water Project, which transports water from Northern California’s Bay-Delta through an extensive delivery system managed by the California Department of Water Resources.
Water can travel up to 1,000 miles before reaching local taps. Snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains feeds the Colorado River, while Northern California water moves through the State Water Project. With 1,600 structures and over 100 flow control facilities, the Water Authority’s countywide infrastructure is vital to provide San Diego with a safe and reliable source of water.
Maintaining this complex system comes at a cost, and as with many essential services across the state, those costs are rising. There are a variety of reasons for this, including inflation that is driving up the cost of items like electricity, steel and chemicals needed for water delivery and treatment.
The Water Authority and its member agencies are not immune from those impacts. In fact, San Diego County’s strategic investments in supply reliability, coupled with the work to maintain the aqueduct system, means upward pressure on water rates will continue – just like it will for almost everything else.
The good news is that even during long dry spells, the Water Authority can meet the regional demand for water that sustains our economy and quality of life.
