In May 2017, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that Otay Water District in California had obtained a US presidential permit for a pipeline crossing the border into Mexico. This removed a key obstacle for the Rosarito Beach desalination project planned by Consolidated Water in Baja California. The plant was to supply 379,000 m³/day, of which 10 to 20 percent was earmarked for Otay. In March 2017, project company Aguas de Rosarito had sought a higher tariff than its original contract with the state, citing changed economic conditions.
The report showed that cross-border water supply needed approval at the highest state level as well as technology and finance, and that southern California saw desalination as a drought-proof source.