The San Diego County Water Authority is expected to generate $15 million in revenue during the first five years of a long-term agreement announced Thursday that will allow Burbank, in Los Angeles County, to purchase water from the agency.
Under the agreement, Burbank will be able to purchase up to 5,000 acre- feet of water annually through 2047, according to the Water Authority.
The agencies will use existing infrastructure to share the water, with no new pipelines required. Water Authority officials said revenue from the agreement will help offset costs associated with investments made over the past three decades to improve San Diego County’s water supply reliability.
“For the third time this year, the Water Authority found a way to help partners in Southern California lock in the water reliability they’re looking for in a way that benefits working families across San Diego County,” Water Authority Board Chair Nick Serrano said. “This is another ‘win-win’ that shows the kind of innovative leadership we need to manage water in a way that positively impacts everyone.”
The agreement is the Water Authority’s third regional water supply partnership announced this year. The agency signed two water supply agreements with water agencies in Riverside County in the spring.