Tonight the city of Carlsbad is poised to take a historic step toward achieving its goal of water reliability. The city is voting on a monumental water purchase agreement with Poseidon Resources that ensures Carlsbad residents will have a reliable supply of water for decades to come.

The 50 million-gallon-per-day desalination plant will be located at the site of the Encina Power Station. It will initially produce enough fresh water annually for 300,000 families. When completed in 2008, it will be the largest such plant in the Western Hemisphere. The project will be a significant piece of the water infrastructure needed to meet the goal set by San Diego County Water Authority officials to get 15 percent of the region's water supply from local seawater desalination by 2016.

The water agreement, supported by a thorough project-specific environmental review process, will guarantee that Carlsbad's residents and businesses receive long-term economic security and protection from drought-related water shortages that could cripple the local economy.

Water issues rarely rise to a level of importance for most of us until faced with a shortage and the need to ration. Once again, the city of Carlsbad's leadership shines with a far-sighted public policy initiative.

Specifically, Carlsbad secures a cost-certain, locally controlled, drought-proof supply of water with all risk borne by the private sector.

Poseidon Resources will deliver to Carlsbad its entire daily requirement and assume all risks associated with the financing, development, construction and operation of the project. The water will be appropriated for public use by the city, guaranteeing that all drinking water produced by Poseidon will remain in the public domain.

The agreement makes financial sense for the city because Poseidon will provide water at a cost never to exceed the price of water that it could purchase from the Water Authority, which is its imported water wholesaler. Water produced by the desalination plant and delivered to Carlsbad will meet or exceed all drinking water regulatory standards under the law. Carlsbad will never be obligated to accept or pay for water that does not meet the quality standards. Finally, the city will retain land-use control over the project site, gain $2 million in new property tax revenue from the redevelopment area and gain three key parcels of land near Agua Hedionda Lagoon and Terra Mar Beach. This land will maximize public access to the beach, lagoon and open space and recreational opportunities.

From the business community's perspective, this is one of the most important votes members of the Carlsbad City Council will take in their careers. Carlsbad is the second-largest home to biotech companies in San Diego County. These companies, along with manufacturing and small businesses, depend on a reliable water source. Therefore, momentum must be maintained on the project so the region is prepared when the inevitable water crisis hits.

Today, thanks to the bold initiative of our local elected officials in Carlsbad, the region can be well on its way toward water reliability.