Project Overview

The Claude "Bud" Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant is a 50 million gallon per day (56,000 acre-feet per year (AFY)) seawater desalination plant located adjacent to the Encina Power Station in Carlsbad, California. Desalination has evolved into a desirable water supply alternative by tapping the largest reservoir in the world - the Pacific Ocean. The technology, available for decades, is at work in many arid areas of the world including the Middle East, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. A 30-year Water Purchase Agreement is in place between the San Diego County Water Authority and Poseidon Water for the entire output of the plant. The plant has been delivering water to the businesses and residents of San Diego County since December 2015.

News

  • Nation's Largest Seawater Desalination Plant Enhances Water Supply Reliability For San Diego County

    ​Water World 

    Carlsbad, California (December 14, 2015) - Operations are under way at the nation's largest and most technologically advanced seawater desalination plant, which was dedicated today by more than 600 elected officials, community leaders and project partners. Read more. 

    Mon, December 14, 2015 (No comments)

  • Nation’s Largest Seawater Desalination Plant Enhances Water Supply Reliability for San Diego County

    Region Commemorates History-Making Project, Dedicates New Plant in Honor of Former Carlsbad Mayor Claude ‘Bud’ Lewis

    Carlsbad, CA (Dec.14, 2015) – Operations are under way at the nation’s largest and most technologically advanced seawater desalination plant, which was dedicated today by more than 600 elected officials, community leaders and project partners. After successfully completing construction, the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant has already produced more than 1.5 billion gallons of locally controlled water for San Diego County, helping to minimize the region’s vulnerability to the statewide drought. Read more.

    Mon, December 14, 2015 (No comments)

  • State's Biggest Desal Plant to Open: What It Means

    San Diego Union Tribune

    Carlsbad, CA (December 13, 2015) Poseidon Water’s desalination plant in Carlsbad is poised to begin regular operations within days — decades after water officials first considered harvesting drinking water from the sea and 14 years after they formally took the first steps toward its construction. Read more. 

    Sun, December 13, 2015 (No comments)
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Need

State, regional and local water plans all have confirmed that immediate and pressing water needs cannot be accomplished without some investment in seawater desalination.

  • The plant will provide 56,000 AFY of new water supply for the San Diego region. A region where nearly 85% of the current water supplies are imported.
  • The CA Department of Water Resources’ 2009 Water Plan Update identifies the need for 275,000 AF of desalinated water by 2025.
  • The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Integrated Water Resources Plan identifies a need for 150,000 AFY of seawater desalination (including 56,000 AFY from the Carlsbad project) by the year 2020.
  • The San Diego County Water Authority’s (SDCWA) Urban Water Management Plan identifies a need for 56,000 AFY of seawater desalination from the Carlsbad project by 2016.