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California’s water use always makes for interesting conundrums. Starting on November 9th, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will decide whether or not to publicly subsidize plans for a private desalination plant in the city of Carlsbad. The Poseidon Resources firm which is building the plant, has made a request for up to $350 million dollars over the next twenty-five years to ensure they remain cost-competitive. Despite claims that the first large scale ocean-water desalination plant on the West Coast would not burden taxpayers in the region of San Diego, Poseidon also has applied for tax-exempt status for state bonds to finance construction costs totaling $530 million dollars. In response, organizations such as Food and Water Watch have pointed to the company’s previous attempt to build and operate a desalination plant in Tampa Bay, Florida. The 1999 project ran $40 million dollars over budget and failed to operate competently on behalf of its servicing communities. The public water agency in Tampa Bay ultimately had to assume control as a result and critics fear a similar failure may be in order for San Diego County Residents. Environmental concerns are also cited against Poseidon as the ocean-water desalination process is energy intensive. Three environmental groups also say that the company misrepresented statistics as to how much ocean life would be killed from drawing water into the plant.

GUEST: Renee Maas, Water Programs Organizer with Food and Water Watch

For more information, visit www.foodanwaterwatch.org.