Those clock in at $2,100 and $2,200, respectively. And seawater desalination tops the chart at $2,800 per acre-foot. These numbers don’t tell us what’s “good” or “bad” — they tell us what’s real. Every water source has a role to play in our future. But understanding the cost helps us make smarter, more sustainable choices. It helps us prioritize investments, communicate with the public, and build a resilient water portfolio that balances reliability, affordability, and environmental impact. At the Southern California Water Coalition, we believe in bringing people together to have these conversations — whether it’s at a summit, in a classroom, or on social media. Because when people understand the value of water, they’re more likely to protect it. So next time someone asks, “Why don’t we just build more desalination plants?” — you’ll have a thoughtful answer. And maybe even a chart.
GUEST COLUMNIST
I f you asked someone on the street which water supply is the most expensive in California, you’d probably get a mix of guesses — maybe desalinated seawater, maybe imported wa- ter from Northern California. That’s exactly what we did at the recent BizFed Institute Water Resiliency Summit in Whittier, where we asked attendees to guess the cost of different water sources. The answers were eye-opening. Here’s the reality: in Southern California, water imported through the State Water Project costs about $600 per acre-foot. That’s on the lower end. Encouraging consumer conservation — like turf replacement programs — costs around $1,100. But stormwater capture and water recycling? “What’s a Drop Worth?”
By Elizabeth Smilor T he Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Board of Directors unanimously named Shivaji Deshmukh as its General Manager effective Jan. 1, 2026. Deshmukh has served as General Manager for the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) since 2019 and has worked in regional water roles for decades. “I’m really feeling energized. I’m excited to leverage all the experience that I’ve had working within the Metropolitan service area over the past 25 years,” Deshmukh said. “Metropolitan is approaching a time of big decisions on how to balance our demand with supply challenges on the Colorado River and the State Water Project. I feel like the Board has done a great job laying out the path, so there is a clear direction as we set the
Charley Wilson is the Executive Director of the Southern California Water Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to informing Californians about our water needs and resources.
course for water reliability for the next century.” Deshmukh becomes Metropolitan’s 16th general
manager, succeeding Deven Upadhyay who stepped into the role in January after the board dismissed the previous general manager, Adel Hagekhalil. Upadhyay, who began his Metropolitan career in 1995, is retiring. The Board vote on Oct. 14 came following a five-month recruitment process. Deshmukh joined Metropolitan on Nov. 3 as general manager-designate, working closely with Upadhyay. “Shivaji Deshmukh has worked for more than 25 years to ensure Southern California communities have reliable water. He has helped develop large-scale water recycling projects, forged valuable partnerships across agencies, and advanced innovative water management programs that have multiple benefits for our region and state. He has overseen water operations, balanced budgets, and led workforces,” said Metropolitan Board Chair Adán Ortega Jr. ”And now, at Metropolitan, his charge will be to implement the groundbreaking climate adaptation strategy set by the board earlier this year to manage an increasingly volatile water supply environment. He will also address workforce and aging infrastructure issues as we plan our next biennial budget,” Ortega continued.
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CALIFORNIA WATER is published by Civic Publications, Inc. ©2025. For comments or questions, email Chris Lancaster at chris.lancaster@civicpub.com www.civicpublications.com
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