San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has publicly commended the San Diego County Water Authority's (SDCWA) latest move to diminish ratepayer costs through a fresh water-saving agreement. Gloria highlighted the agency's collaborative effort at the Colorado River Users Association conference, resulting in a significant $20 million savings for regional ratepayers.
Channeling a spirit of innovation, the SDCWA has now twice paired with the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), to bolster water reserves in Lake Mead — a critical move for the arid region. According to Inside San Diego, Mayor Gloria stated, "This agreement reflects the kind of innovative and collaborative solutions we need to ensure water reliability and reduced costs for San Diegans." He assured continued advocacy for such solutions at the Water Authority, aiming to marry affordability with sustainability and prudent long-term resource management.
The City of San Diego's representatives have consistently pushed SDCWA staff leadership to craft and manage agreements to combat the climbing water rates. It's made evident by the Water Authority’s consecutive agreements in 2023 and 2024 that the focus is on ratepayer affordability, where the savings from the current year's arrangement will be funneled into 2026 wholesale water rates. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation backs these water exchanges as part of a comprehensive initiative to safeguard the stressed Colorado River.
Nick Serrano, Water Authority Board Chair and Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Gloria, praised the agreement. "For the second year in a row, the Water Authority and its partners have struck a deal to conserve water in Lake Mead and save our local ratepayers approximately $20 million," he said in a statement obtained by the City of San Diego, demonstrating how the strategic use of the Water Authority's assets can protect both ratepayers and the river itself. The 2024 agreement — involving the IID, MWD, and the Water Authority — facilitated the retention of an additional 50,000 acre-feet within Lake Mead, helping to stave off critically low water levels. Federal funding, back-to-back wet years, and agricultural and urban conservation efforts enabled these transfers.
The ongoing success of water transfers and exchanges has showcased the Water Authority's ability to offset costs from historic investments and foster cooperative endeavors with other Colorado River stakeholders. Additionally, the agency is implementing measures such as budget reductions, project deferrals, debt refinancing, increasing grant funds, and restructuring rates to address the burgeoning cost of water.
