The Future of Water in San Diego

Toby Roy, Regulatory Manager

The San Diego County Water Authority is a public agency formed in 1944 by the California State Legislature whose mission is to provide a safe and reliable supply of water to its 24 member agencies - including the City of San Diego - supplying a safe and reliable water supply to support a $206 billion economy and way of life for over 3.1 million residents. The Water Authority takes a leadership role in resource management, working with its member agencies to diversify the region’s water supply sources and to promote water and energy efficiency.

In 2003, the Imperial Irrigation District agreed to sell a portion of its mammoth allotment from the Colorado River for 45 years to the Water Authority.

Toby Roy is the Regulatory Manager for the San Diego County Water Authority.  She joined the Water Authority in 2005.  As Regulatory Manager, she is responsible for tracking, reviewing and engaging on regulatory and policy issues impacting the Water Authority on the local, state and federal levels.  This includes issues and policy related to energy management and greenhouse gases, water supply, water quality, conservation, safe drinking water and environmental impacts.  At the Water Authority she has also managed programs for water conservation, integrated regional water management and recycled water.

Prior to joining the Water Authority, Roy was in the Drinking Water and Environmental Management Division of California Department of Health Services, responsible for the regulation of public drinking systems. She also worked as an engineering consultant and for the city of Carlsbad attorney’s office.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Oregon State University, and a juris doctorate from California Western School of Law.

To maximize the reliability of the region’s water supply, the Water Authority is executing a long-term strategy to diversify the region's supply sources, make major investments in the region’s water delivery and storage system, and improve water-use efficiency. Through dynamic leadership, thoughtful planning, and prudent fiscal policies, the Water Authority is cost-effectively managing the region’s water portfolio, while continuing to diversify supplies to enhance future reliability.