Will the Real “Authority” Please Stand Up?
- Susan Heavilin
- Aug 24, 2024
- 3 min read
I am so confused about the “water suppliers” in charge of the water we drink and shower in. First you have the word authority in some of the names . . . sounds so authoritarian, doesn’t it? So, what’s in a name you ask.
San Diego County Water Authority is described as “a wholesale supplier of water to the roughly western third of San Diego County.” Well, they are the BIG guys. The following agencies purchase water from the Water Authority. So, I agree that they deserve the title of “Authority” because they provide water for a lot of different cities and areas.
Note that they are all “districts” or “cities”, except for the Sweetwater Authority. If you look at the map, it isn’t very big compared to some others. How did it get that Authority name? It must supply water to a ton of cities.
The Sweetwater Authority manages the water systems for the following California cities and districts: National City, Western and central Chula Vista, Bonita, and South Bay Irrigation District. The SWA supplies water to three cities and one district.
The second water company in this area is Otay Water District. It’s just a district, not an authority. Its facilities serve the water, recycled water, and sewer needs of customers residing in the communities of eastern Chula Vista, Bonita, Jamul, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego, unincorporated areas of El Cajon and La Mesa, and eastern Otay Mesa along the international border with Mexico. They service eight cities. Are you getting confused, too?
According to the Sweetwater Authority website, “The Authority's water distribution system includes: Loveland Reservoir, Sweetwater Reservoir, and deep freshwater wells. The Authority also owns and operates two water treatment facilities: the Robert A. Perdue Water Treatment Plant at Sweetwater Reservoir in Spring Valley, CA and the Richard A. Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility in Chula Vista, CA.
Loveland Reservoir can be found in Alpine, CA. Look at the map again and notice the SWA location.
Sweetwater Reservoir and the Robert A. Perdue Water Treatment Plant are both located in Spring Valley. Spring Valley gets its water from Otay Water District.
The deep freshwater wells can be found in National City and those are under the service area provided by SWA. The Richard A. Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility is in Chula Vista, also within the SWA management area.
I don’t think that Sweetwater is in any shape or form an actual “Authority.” They should change their name to Sweetwater District like all the other suppliers and stop trying to be a fancy pants.
If someone could please explain to me in the comments why Sweetwater Authority has any business making decisions about Loveland Reservoir and Sweetwater Reservoir, I’d really appreciate it. The residents who live in close proximity to these reservoirs live in Spring Valley, Bonita and Alpine. None of these cities are serviced by SWA. Anyone?
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