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Politics & Government

City Council Approves Desalination Plant Agreement

City Council voted to approve a proposed agreement with the San Diego County Water Authority regarding the plan to create a new supply of fresh water for the area.

The Carlsbad City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to enter into an agreement with the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) regarding the desalination plant planned for the south side of Carlsbad's Agua Hedionda Lagoon, next to the Encina Power Station.

The council's vote was seen as a major step forward after considering the project for 13 years.

The was first approached about the in 1998 by Poseidon Resources, the company that will run the plant. In September of 2004, the Carlsbad Municipal Water District and Poseidon entered into an agreement. In 2006, the project got the land use approvals and the environmental certification it needed.

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Councilman Mark Packard expressed some doubts about Tuesday's agreement with the SDCWA but gave it his vote “not because it’s so great for the city of Carlsbad, but it’s the best we’ve been able to come up with.” An older agreement would have allowed the city to purchase water directly from Poseidon for less money. However, Poseidon made a deal with the SDCWA, meaning the plant's water will now be distributed through SDCWA's pipelines and the city will not be able to purchase water at the cheaper rate. Councilman Keith Blackburn agreed with Packard, saying the proposal was “just OK.”

Mayor Pro Tem Ann Kulchin had a more positive response than Blackburn and Packard. “We did the very best we could,” she said. “I’m grateful for this.” Mayor Matt Hall pointed out that the economy is very different now than it was in 2004 when the project was agreed upon, and that meant some changes had to be made. Despite their reservations, the council voted unanimously to enter into the agreement.

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The objective of building a desalination plant is to benefit the public by providing a good water source at an acceptable price— a source that offers quantity, quality and reliability. Peter MacLaggan, a representative from Poseidon Resources, said the plant also will bring employment opportunities to Carlsbad. “There are going to be hundreds of jobs available,” he told the council.

The plant is expected to be built in about three years.

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