Rosarito’s dry promise might finally pour
On Friday, August 22, Baja California’s Secretary of Water, Víctor Daniel Amador Barragán, met with Ensenada’s top business group to talk water. Again.
This time, he came with numbers, blueprints, and what sounds like political backing. The focus? The infamous Rosarito Desalination Plant. The one we’ve all heard about, but never actually seen.
2,200 liters per second? That’s the goal
The plan, according to Amador Barragán, is to build the plant under CONAGUA, with the state in charge of operations. The plant is still in the planning and engineering phase — yes, still.
But they’re talking serious numbers now:
- Capacity: 2,200 liters per second
- Budget: 15 billion pesos
- Impact: Double the water supply to Ensenada
- Bonus: Also benefits Tijuana and Rosarito
If all goes well, this plant could finally put an end to water rotations and last-minute garrafón runs.
A bigger plan for a thirstier Baja
This plant isn’t a solo act. It’s part of the Programa Estatal Hídrico (PEH), which currently includes 58 active projects. The total investment: over 24 billion pesos.
These projects aim to fix everything from drinking water access to wastewater management. And if that’s not enough, there’s the Bono Verde (Green Bond) initiative too.
The Green Bond covers 59 additional projects, worth 3.2 billion pesos:
- 36 for potable water
- 19 for sewage
- 4 for water reuse
It’s a full-on attack against Baja’s water problems — on paper, at least.
The business community wants to believe
The meeting was held with the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial de Ensenada (CCEE). Their president, Julio Salinas López, welcomed the plan and praised the state’s attention to water infrastructure.
He called the project a step toward not only better service, but also poverty reduction. Access to water, he argued, affects health, education, and the economy. And he’s not wrong.
Still, these business leaders have seen plenty of “in-progress” projects stall. So while they’re hopeful, they’re also cautious — and likely keeping an eye on the budget sheet.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this
Back in May, we covered the reactivation of this very same plant. It was headline-worthy then, and it still is now.
Baja’s Big Water Fix Starts in Rosarito
Even my dear Martina Dobesh got in on the action. In her Water Watch column, she warned of the risks of continued inaction. Her editorial in July 2024 was clear: no more delays, or the state could face massive water cuts.
A Stark Warning of Water Cuts – A Water Watch Editorial
She said what most people were thinking but few dared to write. You don’t have to agree with her tone to know she’s got a point.
So, will we finally get water or just more words?
Here’s the good news: the plans are detailed, the budget is real, and the political support seems aligned. That’s more than we had five years ago.
The bad news? Nothing has broken ground yet. Not a single pipe has been laid. Not one shovel photo-op. And until that happens, it’s hard to say this time is different.
Still, if you’re tired of hearing your neighbor’s pump running all night, or rationing toilet flushes, this might be a step in the right direction.
Just keep the garrafón around — for now.
