With the completion of a second water transfer, Sweetwater Authority (Authority) has secured an additional year’s worth of local water supplies. Sweetwater Reservoir is at over 50 percent capacity, for the first time since 2019. These transfers equate to saving the Authority and its ratepayers approximately $11 million in costs associated with purchasing water.
“The Governing Board is committed to keeping our water rates affordable for our customers by maximizing our water resources,” said Chair Hector Martinez. “We are fortunate to have several different local water supplies that we can work with. The rain has been great for the region this year, but we have to think ahead and know that drought conditions are still a reality for the region. The Board is committed to continuing to prioritize efforts to increasing local supplies through our upcoming Strategic Plan workshop and leveraging those supplies as we begin our rate study later this month. We are looking forward to completing our analysis of the potential to include recycled water as part of the Authority’s water supply portfolio and implementation of the Sweetwater Reservoir Enhancement Project, which include water quality improvements, storage augmentation, and resource recovery.”
Controlled transfers are conducted when water is moved from Loveland Reservoir to Sweetwater Reservoir through the Sweetwater River. The water that is captured at Sweetwater Reservoir is treated and distributed to Authority customers at a lower cost than importing water.
In addition to its two surface water reservoirs, the Authority also has a groundwater desalination facility and fresh water wells in National City. Investment in these local supplies has made the Authority a leader in the region with its diverse water portfolio.