Communication and Collaboration

Two major water projects in San Diego County received a major financial boost to enhance the region’s water supply in July 2020, thanks in part to efforts by the Water Authority to support local water supply development. The East County Advanced Water Purification Project was approved for up to $91.8 million and a project in the City of Escondido was approved for up to $23.4 million.

Since 2019, the Water Authority helped secure nearly $470 million for local supply projects in collaboration with member agencies, including the total of $115 million for the East County and City of Escondido projects. All of the funded projects will increase local water supply reliability and reduce future demands for imported water supplies.

During its July 2020 meeting, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Board of Directors approved entering into funding agreements from its Local Resources Program for both projects. The Water Authority and its member agencies are able to participate in the Local Resources Program after a final court ruling found MWD had illegally barred the Water Authority from receiving money from MWD’s local water supply program, even though the Water Authority was forced to pay for it.