On June 15, 2017, state and local officials joined together with Sweetwater Authority (Authority) to celebrate the completion of construction on the Richard A. Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility Phase 2 Expansion project.
The expansion doubled the facility’s current production of drinking water to 10 million gallons per day (mgd) from 5 mgd, through the addition of five new brackish groundwater wells. This drought resistant water source will supply Authority customers with about one-third of their annual supply.
The $42 million project received over $31 million in grant funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the State of California. The Authority and the City of San Diego partnered together to share the remaining costs not covered by grant funding, and will receive equal shares of the additional water produced.
The Richard A. Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility began operating in 1999 drawing brackish groundwater from five wells for treatment by reverse osmosis for drinking water purposes. The plant was dedicated in honor of Richard “Dick” Reynolds, who was the General Manager of Sweetwater Authority from 1992 to 1999 and had the vision to develop the concept for the project.