We make clean, safe water from a drought-proof source - the ocean
The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant is the largest, most technologically advanced and energy-efficient seawater desalination plant in the nation. Each day, the plant delivers nearly 50 million gallons (56,000 acre-feet per year (AFY)) of fresh, desalinated water to San Diego County – enough to serve approximately 400,000 people and accounting for about one-third of all water generated in the County. 
Award winning energy efficiency
​Located adjacent to the Encina Power Station in Carlsbad, California, the Carlsbad Desalination Plant was developed as a public-private partnership. The project originated in 1998 and launched in 2015 with a purchase agreement with the San Diego County Water Authority. The project has garnered numerous awards for design, implementation and energy efficiency. 

​News

Commentary: Why San Diego’s desalination project should be replicated - By Barbara Boxer
San Diego, CA (October 12, 2017) - In December 2015, during California’s most recent drought, Poseidon Water opened a seawater desalination facility in Carlsbad which has since produced over 22 billion gallons of high-quality, drought-proof drinking water for San Diego County.  As a United States senator, much of my work included finding innovative solutions to address climate change which would reduce Californian’s pain in the face of predicted droughts. As such, I supported the Carlsbad project and it pleases me that such a huge majority of Californians support seawater desalination as well.
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Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Facility Receives Prestigious Grand Award in Engineering
 Carlsbad, CA (April 26, 2017) – Today, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) honored Poseidon Water with a Grand Award for their excellence in engineering on the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Facility. The award was presented at ACEC’s 50th Anniversary Engineering Excellence Awards Gala on April 25 in Washington, D.C. Poseidon CEO, Carlos Riva was there to accept the prestigious award, alongside representatives from Arcadis, the design and engineering consultant on the plant. Read more.

Nation’s Largest Seawater Desalination Plant Marks One-Year Anniversary 
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. Read more.

DBIA Announces 2016 Design-Build Project of the Year
​Las Vegas, Nevada, 2016 – The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), the only organization that defines, teaches and promotes design-build best practices, announced the 2016 Project of theYear and National Award of Excellence winners at the Design-BuildConference & Expo Awards Dinner. Read more.
The Claude "Bud" Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant provides San Diego County with a locally-controlled, drought-proof supply of high-quality water that meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards.