Carlsbad Desal Plant
  • Home
  • Desal 101
    • How it Works
  • News
    • Media Portal
  • Environmental
    • EIR
  • FAQs
    • Process FAQs
    • Environmental FAQs
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • How We Do It
    • Construction >
      • Mitigation
      • Intake and Outfall
      • Pipeline Overview
      • Desal Plant
      • Construction Team
  • Contact
    • Visit
    • Careers
    • Privacy policy

50 Million Gallons A Day

The Pacific is Now on Tap
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. 
Take a Pop-up Tour of the Carlsbad Desalination Plant
From the giant 72" intake pipe to the massive reverse osmosis building to our carbon neutral energy recovery system, our state-of-the-art plant is a technological wonder where we make 50 million gallons of fresh, drinking water every day. Let's go check it out!

​News

Carlsbad Desalination Plant Shields Region From Megadrought
March 16, 2022 | Water News Network
As the worst drought in 1,200 years grips the West, the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant is protecting the San Diego region with 50 million gallons a day of drought-proof water.
​
STEAM: Making Ocean Water Drinkable
March 16, 2022| CBS Los Angeles
Meet Michelle Peters, the Technical and Compliance Manager for Poseidon Water, who is working to make ocean water drinkable.

How San Diego Gets Drinking Water From The Ocean
October 29, 2021 | The New York Times

Carlsbad Desalination Plant Cuts Output to Conserves Electricity Amid Heat Wave
August 19, 2020 | Times of San Diego
​
CARLSBAD - The San Diego County Water Authority said Tuesday production has been cut back at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant to conserve electricity and prevent rolling blackouts during the statewide heat wave.

New Seawater Intake Pumps Preserve Marine Environment, Enhance Climate-Resilient Water Supply
Carlsbad Desalination Plant Improves Sustainability
July 22, 2020 –  New fish-friendly seawater intake pumps recently commissioned at the Carlsbad Desalination Plant are among the most environmentally advanced intake pumps in the world.  

Second crew begins work at Carlsbad Desalination Plant amid COVID-19 pandemic 
April 13, 202 | The Coast News

Unsung Heroes: Carlsbad's desalination plant workers
April 1, 2020 | CBS 8

Carlsbad desalination plant locks down amid coronavirus  pandemic
March 21, 2020 | Los Angeles Times

Carlsbad desal plant workers begin shelter-in-place to keep the water on 
March 20, 2020 | San Diego Union Tribune 

Carlsbad Desalination Plant Staff Take Extraordinary Step to Shelter in Place to Ensure Operational Continuity at Critical Facility
March 19, 2020 | PR Newswire

To solve global water scarcity, we need to get more serious about desalination 
December 30, 2019 | Popular Science Magazine

Positive Operating Performance Boosts Desal Plant Bond Rating; Facility ownership transfer approved by Water Authority Board; Poseidon to continue plant management 
October 24, 2019 - Bonds from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant and pipeline were upgraded to BBB and given a stable outlook in a new report from Fitch Ratings, affirming the project’s sound management and its ability to provide a stable, reliable source of drinking water to the San Diego region. As the largest, most technologically advanced and energy-efficient plant of its kind in the nation, the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant’s stability stems from an effective collaboration between Poseidon Water and the San Diego County Water Authority.
That partnership will continue under a transfer of ownership from Orion Water Partners to Aberdeen Standard Investments approved Thursday by the Water Authority’s Board of Directors. The transfer – made public in June – will not alter day-to-day operations at the Carlsbad facility or create a fiscal impact to the Water Authority.  Read More.

Gage:  Setting the Record Straight on Seawater Desalination
October 8, 2019 - Op-Ed Voice of Orange County– A recent news release posted on the Voice of OC website was clouded by mischaracterizations of the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, which provides an important source of drinking water for San Diego County and reduces our region’s reliance on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta.  Read More.

Credit Analysis Affirms Carlsbad Desalination Plant is Financially Strong
Innovative Public-Private Partnership Creates Reliable Water Supply for Region
​
Carlsbad, CA (October 7, 2019) – The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant maintains an investment grade rating in the latest report from Fitch Ratings, affirming the plant’s sound financial management and its ability to provide a stable, reliable source of drinking water to the San Diego region.  As the largest, most technologically advanced and energy-efficient desalination plant in the nation, the Carlsbad Desalination Plant’s revenue stability stems from an effective collaboration between Poseidon Water and the San Diego County Water Authority.October 8, 2019 - Op-Ed Voice of Orange County– A recent news release posted on the Voice of OC website was clouded by mischaracterizations of the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, which provides an important source of drinking water for San Diego County and reduces our region’s reliance on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta.  Read More.

Poseidon Water Congratulates the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) Team on $100M DOE Desalination Hub
September 27, 2019 - CARLSBAD– Poseidon Water is proud to be part of the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) Team that was selected to receive $100 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a new Energy-Water Desalination Hub.  The Hub’s purpose is to advance state-of-the-art technology and research in desalination.  Read More.

California Coastal Commission Greenlights Restoration of South San Diego Bay Wetlands  
Coastal Development Permit Issued for Joint Effort between Poseidon Water and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Restore 125 acres in the Otay River Estuary
 May 15, 2019 - CARLSBAD – Poseidon Water, owner and operator of the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), received unanimous approval from the California Coastal Commission last week on a Coastal Development Permit for restoration of the Otay River Estuary in South San Diego Bay.  Read More.

Desal plant operator assumes maintenance of Carlsbad lagoon
Poseidon Water takes over dredging, plans new intakes and pump station
SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE - By 
PHIL DIEHL
MAY 13, 2019 - CARLSBAD — The company that built and operates the Carlsbad seawater desalination plant took over stewardship of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon this week, the only San Diego County lagoon that allows power boats, kayaks, paddleboards and other recreational and commercial activities.Poseidon Water will be responsible for dredging Agua Hedionda to keep it open and deep enough for public and private uses including a YMCA Aquatic Park, the Hubbs-SeaWorld Fish Hatchery, the Carlsbad Aquafarm shellfish operation and the lagoon foundation’s nature center.  Read More.
Carlsbad Desalination Plant Updated Permit  Approved by San Diego Water Board
State Standard Assures More Protection for Fish and Marine Life
May 8, 2019 - SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board today renewed a permit governing discharges from the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant into the Pacific Ocean that includes structural and operational changes to provide greater protection for marine life and water quality. Read more. 
New Permit Fosters Sustainable Water Production at Carlsbad Desalination Plant​
Facility advances local, statewide efforts to achieve climate-resilient water supplies
May 8, 2019 - San Diego regional water quality regulators today issued a permit for the installation of new, technologically advanced and environmentally sensitive seawater intake and discharge facilities at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant. The plant – and the new permit – support Gov. Gavin Newsom’s April 29 executive order for California “to think differently and act boldly by developing a comprehensive strategy to build a climate-resilient water system.” Read more. 
Poseidon Water Assumes Stewardship of Agua Hedionda Lagoon 
Carlsbad Desalination Plant Owner Commits to Preserve and Protect over 400 Acres of Coastal Habitat
May 6, 2019 - Poseidon Water, a national leader in the development of water supply and treatment projects using a public-private partnership approach, furthered its commitment to protect and preserve San Diego’s coastal environment by assuming stewardship of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad.  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.
HOME | DESAL 101 | NEWS | ENVIRONMENTAL | FAQS | ABOUT | CONTACT
© 2017 Carlsbad Desalination Project : 5780 Fleet Street, Suite 140, Carlsbad, CA 92008 | (760) 655-3900
​All Rights Reserved. Contact | Login.
  • Home
  • Desal 101
    • How it Works
  • News
    • Media Portal
  • Environmental
    • EIR
  • FAQs
    • Process FAQs
    • Environmental FAQs
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • How We Do It
    • Construction >
      • Mitigation
      • Intake and Outfall
      • Pipeline Overview
      • Desal Plant
      • Construction Team
  • Contact
    • Visit
    • Careers
    • Privacy policy