Backed by President Claudia Sheinbaum, Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar has announced the launch of construction on the Rosarito Desalination Plant. A key component of the 2024–2030 National Water Plan, the project is designed to provide a lasting solution to the region’s chronic water shortages. The facility represents an initial investment of 15 billion pesos and is expected to deliver a capacity of 2,200 liters per second.
During her morning press conference, Del Pilar said the plant will guarantee a reliable water supply for Tijuana, Playas de Rosarito, and parts of Ensenada, benefiting hundreds of thousands of families who have long endured rationing and scarcity. The National Water Commission (CONAGUA) will oversee the project’s construction, while the state government will manage its operation and maintenance.
The governor recalled that for decades, water shortages forced thousands of families in Tijuana to live with scheduled supply cuts. She emphasized that thanks to new infrastructure and coordination with the federal government, continuous service has been maintained since she took office.
“Water and sanitation infrastructure may not always be visible because it is underground, but it is what transforms people’s quality of life,” she said.
The new plant is also part of the State Water Program, which encompasses 58 projects in desalination, sanitation, sewerage, and water reuse, with a total investment exceeding 24.67 billion pesos. Among the highlights are the rehabilitation of the Colorado River–Tijuana Aqueduct (98% complete), the modernization of the La Nopalera plant in Tecate (74%), the upgrade of the Abelardo L. Rodríguez purification plant in Tijuana (85%), and the rehabilitation of potable water networks in Tijuana and Ensenada (94.5%).
Víctor Amador Barragán, head of the Water Management, Sanitation, and Protection Department, credited the daily efforts of state water commission employees for placing Baja California among the states with the highest coverage rates nationwide: 99.8% in Tijuana and Rosarito, 98.4% in Mexicali, 95.6% in Tecate, and 89.2% in Ensenada.
Looking ahead to 2025, officials noted that, following President Sheinbaum’s instructions, the Municipal Social Infrastructure Contributions Fund (FAISMUN) will expand to include water and sanitation projects. This adjustment is intended to extend infrastructure to previously underserved communities and advance greater equity in access to the resource.
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