From Ocean to Tap: Carlsbad’s Desalination with Jeremy Crutchfield

In this episode we explore the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, which is the largest, most technologically advanced and energy-efficient seawater desalination plant in the nation. Each day, the plant delivers nearly 50 million gallons (56,000 acre-feet per year (AFY)) of fresh, desalinated water to San Diego County – enough to serve approximately 400,000 people.

Discover how desalination technology has evolved and its potential to address future water shortages. We discuss the energy demands of desalination, the impact of sea level rise on these plants, and the environmental impact of brine discharge.

Topics Discussed:

• Energy demands of desalination
• The impact of sea level on desalination plants
• Practical limitations of transporting desalinated water
• The cost of desalination compared to traditional water treatment
• The volume and management of desalination waste
• Water rights for desalination plants
• The future of desalination in California and around the world
• Resources for learning more about the Carlsbad Desal plant

Jeremy Crutchfield is the manager in the Water Resources Department of the San Diego County Water Authority. Jeremy is a licensed civil engineer with more than twenty-five years’ experience planning, designing and constructing water infrastructure projects; and currently oversees the facility and supply planning functions at the Water Authority as well as administration of the Carlsbad Desalination Plant Water Purchase Agreement.

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