Institute
for Regional Studies of the CaliforniasInstitute
for Regional Studies of the CaliforniasThe developed areas of the International Border Planning Area are well covered by potable water supply infrastructure, with the exception of some irregular settlements in Tijuana on the western and extreme eastern ends of the area south of the border. As undeveloped areas in the planning area are built out in the future, as indicated on Map 3, both San Diego and Tijuana will need to supply additional water delivery capacity. Not only will demand increase within the International Border Planning Area, but the entire San Diego-Tijuana region will experience a significant growth in demand for potable water over the next 20 years. Finding sources of water to meet projected planning area and regional demands will be a major challenge for the binational community. In addition, the development and implementation of demand management, conservation, and reuse measures will also be a challenge.
In 1996, the combined San Diego-Tijuana region used 683,000 acre-feet (842 million cubic meters) of water to support residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural activities. Approximately 90 percent of this water was used in San Diego and 10 percent in Tijuana. Demand is projected to increase to 848,000 acre-feet (1.05 billion cubic meters) by 2010. In order to meet future water needs, authorities in both communities are moving forward with efforts focusing on conservation, reclamation and reuse, improved regional storage capacity, and joint construction of a new aqueduct to the Colorado River to enhance deliveries from that source. Tijuana is also exploring enhancement of potable water through desalination.
Tijuana's potable water and sewage services are operated by the State Commission for Public Services for Tijuana (Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Tijuana—CESPT). Tijuana is supplied with water from Rodríguez Reservoir, water transported from the Colorado River by an aqueduct, and wells in La Misión located south of Tijuana on the coast (since 1993, this has not been considered a secure source). In addition, a small, but critical portion of Tijuana's water is supplied by the wells in the Río Alamar and Río Tijuana and efforts are under way to protect these sources and maximize groundwater recharge. Water from Rodríguez Reservoir and the Colorado aqueduct is treated at the filtration plant at El Florido. The water is distributed throughout Tijuana via two main systems: (1) the Mesa de Otay tank, and (2) the Aguaje de la Tuna tank and the Colonia Obrera pump station. Water distributed through the system of mains and supply lines reaches approximately 85 percent of Tijuana's population. The remainder is serviced through deliveries by tank trucks (pipas) at a cost that is two to three times that of piped-in water.
Although coverage in Tijuana's portion of the International Border Planning Area is relatively complete, water delivery through the system is not adequate due to a shortfall in water supply for Tijuana as a whole. Sporadic water delivery in the planning area will be problematic until supply is expanded through reclaimed water, desalination, and completion of the new aqueduct from the Colorado River and demand is reduced through conservation efforts.
The San Diego County Water Authority provides water to retail water districts within the San Diego portion of the International Border Planning Area. The Otay Water District provides retail water service for the County area on the eastern end of the planning area; the San Diego Water District supplies Otay Mesa and San Ysidro within the city limits of San Diego; and the Tia Juana River County Water District serves the sparse population of the Tijuana River Valley. In addition, the California-American Water Company provides service to a limited number of users in Imperial Beach within the International Border Planning Area. Map 4 shows the boundaries of the water districts in San Diego.
The South Bay Water Reclamation Plant will be an additional source of water for the border region. This facility will produce 15 million gallons per day (657 liters per second) of reclaimed water and is scheduled for completion in mid-2001. The plant will reclaim water from the Otay Water District, the City of San Diego, and Tijuana, and make it available to public and private purchasers for industrial and landscaping uses on both sides of the border.
The City of San Diego plans to maximize the beneficial reuse of water from the South Bay Water Reclamation Plant. In 1998, the South Bay Business Plan was prepared to analyze the various options available to the city for marketing reclaimed water on a retail and wholesale basis. The Business Plan identifies reclaimed water customers by inquiring about demand, demand profile (seasonal and daily variations), water quality requirements, and price requirements. This plan was developed with the participation of suppliers and customers on both sides of the international border. The major potential supplies are generated at the South Bay Plant, the International Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the four new wastewater treatment plants that the Mexican government is planning to build in the greater Tijuana area. The major potential wholesale customers include the Otay Water District, the Sweetwater Authority, the City of San Diego, and Mexican agencies in Tijuana. Major retail customer categories include industry, agriculture, groundwater recharge, irrigation, habitat restoration, and habitat maintenance. There are over 25 million gallons per day (1,095 liters per second) of potential reclaimed water demand in the region near the border.
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