**Rosarito Desalination Plant Expected to be Ready by Late 2027**
The highly anticipated desalination plant in Playas de Rosarito, projected to process 2,200 liters per second, might commence operations by the end of 2027 or the beginning of 2028. This estimation comes from Víctor Daniel Amador Barragán, the Water Secretary of Baja California.
With federal government support, the desalinated water could be available by 2027, and its distribution cost is expected to be manageable, thanks to federal resources which would cover infrastructure costs, leaving only operational costs to the users. According to Barragán, this water would cost approximately 11 pesos per cubic meter, similar to the current cost derived from potable water, well water, and desalinated sources.
Following the project’s cancellation by a previous administration, an arbitration demand by Consolidated Water was retracted after the current government, with federal help, purchased the land initially earmarked for the plant. Additionally, expenses deemed unrecoverable by Consolidated Water were compensated.
The environmental impact assessment has already been submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and a decision is pending. The project is also undergoing a review of reference terms to pave the way for basic engineering and budgeting. Upon approval from the National Water Commission, the bidding process can proceed.
Construction time for the plant, once a bidding decision is made, is estimated at two to two and a half years. Plans for macro distribution are underway to direct processed water first to Rosarito and later to Tijuana.
Concerns about water shortages in regions like San Quintín and others were raised by Congress President Dunnia Montserrat Murillo López. Barragán responded that efforts through a Green Bond will focus on expanding the Padre Kino desalination plant. Additionally, the area is eyeing a mega desalination project for San Quintín, awaiting an environmental impact decision, while they investigate the electricity feasibility and water distribution plans for this upcoming plant.
**Additional Developments in Baja California Desalination Efforts:**
As Baja California seeks to solve its water scarcity issues, several other projects are underway or proposed. A modular desalination plant at Ejido Francisco Villa with a planned output of 20 liters per second is in the works. The site has been identified and discussions on land ownership are progressing. Furthermore, discussions continue on how to manage the discharge of brine, a byproduct of desalination, particularly concerning an upcoming tank project in Bahía de Los Ángeles.
**Fiscal and Urban Challenges:**
Addressing fiscal issues, Amador Barragán touched upon 244 legal cases involving the company Fisamex, amounting to 664 million pesos. Of these, 153 are legal protections, and 91 are administrative cases. The state is working to recover roughly 585 million pesos, with a part already returned, although locating Romafam S.A. de C.V for accountability remains challenging.
On the urban front, delays exist in Tijuana’s pavement repair, with a backlog of 70,000 square meters requiring attention. While efforts are underway to address these overdue tasks, it stems from three years of neglect in street maintenance, highlighting significant infrastructural challenges still to overcome.