After 15 years of costly litigation, the San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California have reached a historic settlement, ending all outstanding legal disputes and ushering in a new era of collaboration. 

This agreement brings long-needed stability and certainty to how San Diego pays for delivery of conserved Colorado River water—something our region has invested in for decades to ensure a reliable, independent water supply. Instead of tying the price to Metropolitan’s rates, the new agreement sets a predictable fixed price that adjusts only for inflation. This not only helps us manage our budget more effectively; it also reduces the risk of future legal conflict and opens the door to greater regional cooperation. 

For San Diego, it creates new opportunities to provide water to other Southern California communities that need it, ensuring we get the full benefit of the wise investments we made years ago and avoiding future spikes in water rates. This is why it was important for me to get this across the finish line. 

Thanks to the leadership of Water Authority Chair Nick Serrano, who also serves as my Deputy Chief of Staff, plus former Chair Mel Katz, and their partners at Metropolitan, this settlement reflects what’s possible when we move beyond conflict and focus on shared goals. 

This is a win for San Diego ratepayers, a win for the region, and a strong step forward for water reliability across Southern California.