Desalination means converting sea water into fresh water. With recent technological advances, seawater desalination represents a new, safe, and drought-proof water supply that will reduce the San Diego region's over-reliance on imported water from the Colorado River and Northern California. Several seawater desalination facilities are under consideration in San Diego County that will significantly increase local water available to serve the region. Future seawater desalination facilities will likely use reverse osmosis technology, a process that separates salts, minerals and other impurities leaving only very high-quality fresh drinking water. Learn More…

The Otay Water District is firmly committed to expand the use of recycled water in order to minimize its overall demand for potable water, and currently has one of the largest recycled water distribution systems in San Diego County. The District operates a Water Recycling Facility in Rancho San Diego, which produces approximately 1.1 million gallons per day (MGD) of recycled water. In addition, in the fall of 2003, the District signed an agreement with the City of San Diego for the right to receive up to 6 MGD of recycled water from the San Diego's South Bay Water Reclamation Plant, located in San Ysidro. Learn More…