por 
ALFREDO AZCARATE VARELA
THE BAJA POST/EDITOR
As part President Sheinbaum´s National Water Plan 2024–2030, Governor Marina del Pilar Avila of Baja California, announced the construction of Rosarito Desalination Plant — a project aiming to finally resolve the region’s historic water access issues, with an initial investment of 15 billion pesos and a capacity of 2 thousand 200 liters per second, about 581 thousand 179 gallons per second.
Since the beginning of her administration, Marina del Pilar has focus on supplying a steady water supply mostly during the Summer months, resolving one of Baja Pacific Coast major concerns
During her weekly morning press conference, Marina del Pilar emphasized that this project will ensure high-quality water for Tijuana, Playas de Rosarito, and parts of Ensenada, benefiting thousands of families who have faced water rationing and shortages for many years and the project will be carried out by CONAGUA (National Water Commission) while Baja California state government will take over operation and maintenance.
In this regard, Governor Avila recalled that, for decades, water scarcity forced thousands of families in Tijuana to endure water rationing, a situation that will be left behind due to investments in hydric infrastructure and collaboration with the Federal Government.
The plant is part of the 2022–2027 State Water Program, with 58 projects related to desalination, sanitation, sewer systems, and water reuse, with a total investment of more than 24.67 billion pesos.
“Water and sanitation works may not always be visible because they’re underground, but they are the ones that truly transform people’s quality of life. Guaranteeing basic services has a direct impact on the well-being of families,” said Marina del Pilar.
The most important undertakings are: Rehabilitation of the Colorado River–Tijuana Aqueduct, which is nearly complete with 98% progress; modernization of La Nopalera Plant in Tecate at 74%; the Abelardo L. Rodríguez Water Treatment Plant in Tijuana at 85%; and the rehabilitation of potable water networks in Tijuana and Ensenada, currently at 94.5% completion.
Víctor Amador Barragán, head of the State Department of Water Management, Sanitation, and Protection, acknowledged the day-to-day effort of the state’s Water Commission workers, crediting them with placing Baja California among the states with the best water supply in the country.
Barragán also noted that water coverage now reaches 99.8% in Tijuana and Rosarito, 98.4% in Mexicali, 95.6% in Tecate, and 89.2% in Ensenada.
Finally, he mentioned that, for 2025, under instructions from President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the Municipal Social Infrastructure Contribution Fund (FAISMUN) has expanded its scope to also include water and sanitation projects. This aims to bring infrastructure to more communities that were previously left out of such projects, moving toward greater equity in water access.
