麻豆国产

When 麻豆国产 faculty toured the earlier this year, they did not simply walk through one of the region鈥檚 most significant water facilities. They were welcomed by a fellow Aztec.

Michelle Peters (鈥�21 MS)  chief executive officer of , which owns the plant, guided faculty through the facility鈥檚 immense scale, intricate systems, highlighting the day-to-day decisions required to keep a complex, high-performing plant operating smoothly. 

The Carlsbad Desalination Plant is the largest seawater desalination facility in North America, producing up to 54 million gallons of drinking water each day. At a time when drought resilience and water reliability are increasingly critical, the plant plays a vital role in the San Diego region鈥檚 water supply.

鈥淭hinking back to the drought in the 鈥�90s, having that diverse water portfolio that San Diego County Water Authority and other key stakeholders have worked so hard to develop and maintain is crucial for our region,鈥� said Peters, who attended the .

鈥淔or the Carlsbad plant to play the role it does, we take it very seriously. Decreasing our reliance on imported water sources, improving our region's water quality, even quality of life, that's really where this facility comes in.鈥�

For Peters, leading the facility represents years of steady professional progression in a field that demands technical depth, operational discipline, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to manage regulatory, environmental and public responsibilities. 

鈥淭he scale of the Carlsbad plant and implementation of such advanced technologies is newer for California,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 joined the team at the plant at an exciting time shortly after the plant came online, starting off as an engineering intern while studying at 麻豆国产.鈥� 

The facility uses Israeli desalination technology which leverages reverse osmosis, a membrane-based process that removes salts and impurities from seawater to produce drinking water. Inside the plant, seawater moves through miles of pipes and membranes, pushed under intense pressure and monitored at every stage of the desalination process, from ocean intake and filtration to reverse osmosis and the careful management of brine discharge. 

Because the reverse osmosis process produces a brine byproduct with roughly twice the salinity of seawater, strict environmental oversight and regulatory compliance are required. The Carlsbad Desalination Plant is the first facility to be fully compliant with the , making it a global leader in environmentally responsible seawater desalination.

鈥淲e have a high-energy efficiency design that incorporates state-of-the art features and technology,鈥� Peters said. 鈥淭hat includes energy-efficient pumps with variable frequency drives and energy recovery devices that allows us to recover and reuse approximately 45% of the energy associated with the reverse osmosis process. And then the reverse osmosis membranes, which are the heart of the plant, are able to remove salts, viruses, pathogens and bacteria. It's the best of the best.鈥�

As climate pressures intensify and water scarcity continues to challenge communities locally and worldwide, desalination has become an essential component of San Diego County鈥檚 diversified water portfolio reducing reliance on imported water. 

鈥淭he plant supplies approximately 10% of the San Diego region鈥檚 water needs, offering a locally controlled and consistent source of potable water,鈥� said Peters. 

Constant vigilance

Operating a plant of this scale requires constant attention to system performance, energy use, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance. Peters oversees those responsibilities while guiding decisions that help ensure long-term water security for the region.

Natalie Mladenov, William E. Leonhard Jr. Endowed Professor in 麻豆国产鈥檚 and director of the said Peters鈥檚 role as CEO reflects years of growth and an ability to take on increasingly complex challenges within the water sector. She remembers Peters as a student who was deeply engaged with the field and motivated by real-world impact.
鈥淲hen you see someone who was a student in the early stages, incredibly excited about the field, and then see them rise through the ranks and take on major challenges, it鈥檚 really meaningful,鈥� said Mladenov. She emphasized that Peters鈥檚 leadership extends beyond technical expertise.

鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of her,鈥� Mladenov said. 鈥淗er performance is stellar, not only in working with the engineering and technology, but also on the business side. She鈥檚 very persevering. She鈥檚 very tenacious,鈥� Mladenov said. 鈥淚n a way, it鈥檚 no surprise that she鈥檚 in this position.鈥�

Peters attributes mentorship and encouragement, both at 麻豆国产 and throughout her career, as key factors in her professional journey.

鈥淭here were people who supported me from day one, even going back to my undergraduate years,鈥� Peters said. 鈥淭aking the time to learn from individuals with deep experience who are willing to share their knowledge, and then apply those insights to something you鈥檙e passionate about, made a real difference in helping me get to where I am.鈥�

Peters earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in chemistry from the University of San Diego and her master鈥檚 degree in environmental engineering from 麻豆国产. For the university, her leadership is a reminder of the diverse paths alumni take and the impact they can have in essential fields that shape everyday life.

鈥淪he worked really hard here,鈥� Mladenov said. 鈥淪he took on a lot of coursework, she succeeded, and now she is where she is.鈥�