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OPINION: It Shouldn’t Take 20 Years To Decide Whether To Build A Desalination Plant

Last winter’s extreme storms notwithstanding, water remains scarce in California. Between climate change and ongoing growth, California can’t afford to squander a single gallon. Yet in Orange County, a project that could increase water supply by 50 million potable gallons daily has been awaiting approval since 1998. There are pros and cons aplenty to the $1 billion desalination plant proposed for Huntington Beach by Poseidon Water. And in the nearly 20 years during which state and local authorities mulled it, all have been masticated thoroughly.

 

State Appeals Court Hears San Diego Water Dispute

The California Courts of Appeal has 90 days to decide the fate of a water rate dispute between a Los Angeles-based water wholesaler and San Diego County water managers. At issue is the cost of moving water through the Metropolitan Water District’s delivery system. San Diego water managers accused Metropolitan of charging too much to move water San Diego bought in Imperial Valley through MWD’s delivery system. A Superior Court judge agreed and awarded the San Diego County Water Authority $243 million. Metropolitan officials say the lower court got it wrong.

Snow Melt Prompts Concerns Over Possible Flooding in Owens Valley

For years, California was in need of water, but a series of storms this year have brought the much-needed resource to the state. While more water might be good for Los Angeles, it could mean major flooding in the Owens Valley, especially as the snow melts. Our Eyewitness News drone was over the same lake that Mayor Eric Garcetti toured by helicopter on Monday. He recently declared a state of emergency for the area.

Farm Creates New River Habitat for Chinook Salmon

Twenty-five salmon shelters called “refugios”—made of large tree trunks and root wads, bolted to 12,000-pound limestone boulders—have been lowered into the Sacramento River near Redding. A Northern California farm partnered with state and federal agencies in what’s considered a first-of-its-kind project to benefit chinook salmon in the river.

Oroville Dam Spillway Had Two Dozen Problems That May Have Led To Mass Failure, Report Says

The massive failure of the Oroville Dam’s main spillway in February involved two dozen potential design and maintenance problems, including thin concrete, inadequate reinforcing steel and weaknesses in the foundation, a panel of engineering experts reported Wednesday. A forensic investigation team said it was issuing a preliminary list of causes so that engineers do not repeat the problems as they rush to fix the spillway before the next cycle of rains begins in November. The two-page report does not identify what initiated the failure along the 3,000-foot chute that was used to drain the reservoir during massive winter storms.

What Broke the Safe Drinking Water Act?

It was 1997 when Californians began to worry in earnest about a chemical called perchlorate. For decades, the ingredient in jet fuel had been seeping from missile factories and rocket testing sites into groundwater across the state and, thanks to a new testing method, it was suddenly clear it had reached hundreds of drinking water wells. Soon, researchers discovered that the toxic chemical had reached Lake Mead, the picturesque reservoir that supplies water to 25 million people in the American Southwest and irrigates the fields that grow the lion’s share of the nation’s winter produce.

New Permit for Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant Saves City $2 Billion

The California Coastal Commission Wednesday unanimously approved a modified permit for San Diego’s Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, saving the city nearly $2 billion, according to local officials. “The Coastal Commission’s vote validates that San Diego is a true steward of the environment,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. “The commission recognizes our efforts to protect the ocean, efficiently operate city facilities and invest ratepayer dollars into infrastructure that will provide a reliable water source for our city.” Without the modified permit, converting the plant for secondary treatment capabilities would have cost $1.8 billion.

Water Fountain At Birney Elementary School Has Levels Of Lead Above State Guidelines

Parents are being notified that a source of drinking water on the campus of a San Diego-area elementary school has tested positive for lead above the state guidelines.The drinking fountain near the lunch area of Birney Elementary School was one of the sources sampled in the San Diego Unified School District’s effort to test all schools for lead levels in drinking water. City of San Diego employees sampled water from the fountains on May 2 before students were on campus, as per district protocol.

 

What Broke The Safe Drinking Water Act?

It was 1997 when Californians began to worry in earnest about a chemical called perchlorate. For decades, the ingredient in jet fuel had been seeping from missile factories and rocket testing sites into groundwater across the state and, thanks to a new testing method, it was suddenly clear it had reached hundreds of drinking water wells. Soon, researchers discovered that the toxic chemical had reached Lake Mead, the picturesque reservoir that supplies water to 25 million people in the American Southwest and irrigates the fields that grow the lion’s share of the nation’s winter produce.

BLOG: Beyond the Drought: Building Water Conservation Consciousness

In California, the five-year drought had some stunning silver linings, notably a more acute personal awareness of water use. The impacts of drought and climate change yielded scarce water flows and depleted groundwater supplies that focused people’s attention on cutting back on water use. During the drought, the media, water agency mailings and signs on the roadways all pointed over and over to the need to conserve. Local listserves (mailing lists) and cafes filled up with conversations about water costs, water quality, water failures and what water-saving programs were available through local water agencies.