Baja California is a dry region with little fresh water in lakes or rivers, which means that both industries and households need to conserve water. In this coastal area, annual rainfalls are typically less than 200 mm.
For Centro de Conferencias, an on-site well has since 2005 provided a reliable source of water, both for the Conference Center and for the agriculture. Water is pumped from a depth of 80-100 meters to a tank on the hillside. From here gravity brings it to the center to be used for drinking, cooking, cleaning and irrigation.
The water is of high quality and contains a good mix of essential minerals. It is free of industrial residues or other chemicals, as there are no industries in the area, and there has been no use of agricultural chemicals on the property itself.
To conserve water and nutrients, the wastewater from the center is pumped to the orchard. Here it is used a second time to water the fruit trees, which yield fresh fruits of various kinds for the Conference Center during most of the year.
The vegetables in the agriculture receive water through a drip irrigation system. This kind of irrigation minimizes the need for water.
Furthermore, wheatgrass and some vegetables are grown in the farm’s greenhouse, which require even less water.
The current water requirements of Centro de Conferencias can thus be fulfilled in a sustainable way with water from the well situated on the property.
