Desal Plant in Chula Vista Expanding to 10 Million Gallons

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Sweetwater Authority employees stand in front of reverse-osmosis filters in the Reynolds

Groundwater Desalination Facility. Photo by Chris Jennewein
The Sweetwater Authority broke ground Tuesday on a $42 million expansion of its groundwater
desalination plant in Chula Vista that will double output to 10 million gallons daily.
The Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility, which opened in 1999, turnsbrackish water from
local wells into drinkable water.The expansion will include additional wells and more reverseosmosis equipment to double the capacity.

Patricia Aguilar holds a glass in front of reverse-osmosis

filters.

Its local. Its not subject to the drought. It doesnt have to be imported from Colorado. Go
Sweetwater! said Chula Vista City Council Member Patricia Aguilar, in whose district the plant is
located.
National City Mayor Ron Morrison praised the authority for investing in reliable local water sources,
including other wells and two reservoirs, instead of just buying imported water.

This droughts not over and it wont be the last drought, he told a crowd of political and business
leaders gathered for the groundbreaking.
Ernesto Zamudio, chairman of the authority, said 75 percent of the construction costs are being
covered by federal and state grants. When the work is completedin 2017,he said, it will save the
authority $2 million a year over the cost of imported water.
The City of San Diego is also contributing to the project, which will ultimately supply 2 percent of
San Diegos water.
The plant is one of three in San Diego County. Oceanside has a similar groundwater desalination
facility and the giant Carlsbad seawater plant the largest in the Western hemisphere is set to come
on line later this year.
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