Tag Archive for: water deliveries

Tijuana Water Deliveries, Explained

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Over the last few weeks, several stories have come out about water deliveries being made to the city of Tijuana. Here’s some of the basics behind this unique international agreement.  

Whose water is it? Mexico’s. Water delivered through the Emergency Deliveries Agreement is a portion of the Colorado River supplies allotted to Mexico under the 1944 Treaty.  

Where does it come from? Under normal conditions, Tijuana’s supply of Colorado River is diverted from the Morelos Dam, about 1 mile downstream of the California and Baja California boundary, south of Yuma, Ariz. Water is transported west through the Alamo Canal to Mexicali, and then through the Tijuana Aqueduct to Tijuana, for a total of about 150 miles.  

Under emergency conditions, Mexico’s Colorado River supply to Tijuana is diverted at Lake Havasu and transported through Metropolitan’s 242-mile Colorado River Aqueduct before being conveyed through MWD, Water Authority and Otay Water District distribution systems. 

Daytime papel picado framed view of the iconic landmark arch of downtown Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

When did deliveries start? The Agreement was signed in 1972, and several amendments (minutes) were signed since then that document the authorization of emergency deliveries to Mexico. Delivery volumes have varied from 0 to nearly 10,000 acre-feet per year; the maximum annual delivery volume, per the agreement, is 14,400 acre-feet.  

Emergency deliveries occurred throughout the 1970s and stopped from 1981-2002. Deliveries started up again from 2003-2012, with another hiatus from 2013- 2017. Most recently, Mexico has requested emergency deliveries every year from 2018 -2024, except for 2021. 

How many agencies are involved? A number of agencies from the federal, state, local and Mexico governments are involved. On the U.S. side, this includes the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, San Diego County Water Authority and Otay Water District. South of the border, the National Water Commission, Mexico’s International Boundary and Water Commission, State Public Utility Commission of Tijuana (CESPT) and other agencies are involved. 

What does the current agreement include? The current agreement, which expires in 2027, includes procedures and schedules for annual emergency delivery requests, capacity determination by the California Agencies, base cost of deliveries calculation and fund balance requirements.   

With each annual request by Mexico, the California Agencies must agree to deliver the requested delivery volumes based on available capacity within their respective systems. Additionally, funds must be provided by Mexico in advance of water deliveries.  

Eva Plajzer Named Director of Operations and Maintenance for San Diego County Water Authority

/in , , /by /Smart Water Magazine Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority
Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Eva Plajzer, a 30-year civil engineering and management professional, has been appointed Director of Operations and Maintenance for the San Diego County Water Authority. She fills the position vacated by the retirement of Jim Fisher, whose 32-year career included nearly 10 years in a leadership role at the Water Authority.

The Water Authority is a regional wholesale water agency that provides about 80% of the water used in San Diego County, sustaining a $253 billion economy and quality of life for 3.3 million residents. The agency’s Operations and Maintenance Department is responsible for operating the aqueduct system; ensuring facility security and emergency preparedness; and maintaining and managing the fleet and various other assets.

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Water Board Approves $11.4 Million Contract for Reservoir Project

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby City News Service Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

The San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors approved an $11.4 million construction project to improve drinking water supply reliability in North County Thursday.

The Hauck Mesa Storage Reservoir project will begin in February. It includes demolition of an abandoned steel tank, building a 2.1 million-gallon storage reservoir connected to the Valley Center Pipeline, and construction of an isolation vault and an underground flow-control facility.

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New Reservoir to Protect Local Drinking Water Deliveries in North County

/in , , /by /Water News Network Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

A major construction project to improve drinking water supply reliability in North San Diego County will start in February after the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors Jan. 28 approved an $11.4 million contract for the work to Pacific Hydrotech Corporation of Perris, Calif.

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Water-deliveries-Hauck Mesa-Storage Reservoir-

New Reservoir to Protect Local Drinking Water Deliveries in North County

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A major construction project to improve drinking water supply reliability in North San Diego County will start in February after the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors today approved an $11.4 million contract for the work to Pacific Hydrotech Corporation of Perris, Calif.

The Hauck Mesa Storage Reservoir project includes demolition of an abandoned steel tank, building a 2.1 million-gallon storage reservoir connected to the Valley Center Pipeline, and construction of an isolation vault and an underground flow control facility. The project is expected to be completed by winter 2022.

Infrastructure improvements ensure water delivery

Strategic infrastructure improvements by the Water Authority and its 24 member agencies are part of the regional effort to ensure continued delivery of water to support the region’s $245 billion economy and the quality of life for 3.3 million residents. The Water Authority just completed a $30 million series of upgrades on the historic First Aqueduct in North County to ensure these facilities continue to serve the region for many more decades.

“These upgrades are investments in our future,” said Water Authority Board Chair Gary Croucher. “Ever-changing conditions mean the work is complex and challenging, but continued vigilance helps ensure that we can meet our region’s water needs both today and for decades to come.”

As part of the asset management program, it is critical to actively replace and repair the Water Authority’s assets, which include pipes, valves, facilities, equipment and other infrastructure.

Operational flexibility

The new Hauck Mesa Storage Reservoir will provide operational flexibility, enhanced system reliability for the day-to-day operations of the aqueduct system, and help ensure water deliveries can be maintained even if power supplies are interrupted.

The Water Authority will continue to work closely with the Valley Center community, Valley Center Municipal Water District, and nearby homeowners to minimize short-term construction impacts.

For more information on the Hauck Mesa Storage Reservoir project, go to www.sdcwa.org/hauck-mesa-storage-reservoir.

Mexico Poised to Breach 75-Year Water Treaty with US

/in , , /by /bnamericas

Mexico is at risk of breaching a 75-year old water treaty with the US if it does not come up with a new strategy to deliver 457,800 acre-feet (565 million cubic meters – Mm3) of water to its northern neighbor by October 24.

That amount represents 350,000 acre-feet of water that the Latin American country is expected to deliver annually under the US-Mexico water treaty of 1944, in addition to making up for the delayed delivery of around 108,000 acre-feet that it has postponed during the 2015-20 cycle.

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