Official construction on the Playas de Rosarito Desalination Plant formally began following a ceremonial groundbreaking on Friday, September 25.
Rosarito Desalination Plant Is a Turning Point for Our Community: Governor Marina del Pilar
The facility is slated to become the largest desalination plant in Latin America. Once operational, it will deliver potable water to thousands of households across the region while serving schools, hospitals, agricultural developments, and more.
“Baja California is surrounded by the sea, yet for decades we have relied on bringing water from hundreds of kilometers away. That reality taught us a critical lesson: if we want our cities to keep growing, if we want our families to have certainty, and if we want Baja California to have a future, we must look to the ocean today,” the governor said.
The governor stressed that the region can no longer depend exclusively on the Colorado River, which is why this plant will directly enhance supply reliability across Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada to support continuous growth throughout the coastal corridor.
Governor Marina del Pilar emphasized that the project will be fully funded through combined state and federal public resources without tax hikes or financial burdens for local families.
Efraín Morales López, Director of the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), characterized the groundbreaking as a landmark moment as the rapid population expansion in Tijuana and Rosarito has created an urgent demand for reliable potable water.
He added that the plant will boost the regional water supply by 2,000 liters per second upon completion. The initiative also encompasses complementary infrastructure projects designed to optimize distribution across neighborhoods.
While construction is now officially underway, the project carries an estimated three-year development timeline, with final completion projected for 2029.
