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Major Power Shut-Offs Are New Reality As California Enters Peak Wildfire Season

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Alex Wigglesworth and Joseph Serna

Russ Brown and other emergency officials in Yuba County have been trying to get the word out.

Charge your medical equipment and phone batteries now. Make sure you have enough nonperishable food to last a few days.

Because when the hot winds start blowing, the power to your house may be shut off.

The state is entering the height of fire season, with a dangerous mix of strong winds and temperatures approaching triple digits forecast across its valleys and foothills.

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NOAA Predicts Warmer Than Average Temperatures For The Entire U.S. Through December

/in , /by /The Weather Channelby Brian Donegan

Fall officially arrived with the autumnal equinox at 3:50 a.m. EDT Monday morning, but finding the colder weather more typical of autumn may be a difficult task, according to the latest three-month outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

The CPC predicts that the entire country will have warmer than average temperatures from October through December. You read that correctly: No areas of the United States are forecast to have below average temperatures when averaged over that three-month period.

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The Coast is Clear As Volunteers Help Out For California Coastal Cleanup Day

/in , /by /The Beach Reporter ( Los Angeles,Calif.)by Laylan Connelly

They set out with a common goal: to spruce up the coast, parks and waterways, removing as much trash as possible.

Thousands of volunteers throughout the state spent their morning Saturday, Sept. 21, getting their hands dirty for California Coastal Cleanup Day, marking the 35th year for the event. It is also part of a global effort that coincides with International Cleanup Day.

The cleanups happened in 55 counties in California at more than 1,000 locations, with large gatherings in Los Angles County from Malibu, down to Manhattan Beach Pier, throughout the South Bay and further inland at parks and waterways.

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San Diego Public Utilities Department Honored For Sustainability

/in , /by /Water News Network

The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department has been recognized as a “Utility of the Future Today” for its outreach efforts for the Pure Water San Diego Program.

The honor was bestowed today by a partnership of water sector organizations, including the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the Water Environment Federation, the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation, the WateReuse Association and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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California Wildfires Pose Drinking Water Contaminant Challenge

/in , , /by /Water Onlineby Peter Chawaga

To illustrate the pervasiveness of damage caused by California’s rising epidemic of wildfires, researchers are now connecting the problem to an influx of dangerous contaminants in drinking water delivery systems.

Due to increasingly dry conditions, California’s forests are becoming highly susceptible to rampant wildfires, a trend highlighted by the so-called “Camp Fire” in November 2018, the state’s most destructive wildfire on record. In addition to damaging property and jeopardizing lives, this most recent catastrophe presented massive obstacles for drinking water treatment operations.

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Gusty Santa Ana Winds Increase Risk of Fire Weather

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein

Gusty Santa Ana winds and high temperatures will slightly increase the danger of fire Tuesday in San Diego County, according to the National Weather Service.

A low-pressure system hanging over Southern California will produce Santa Ana winds with gusts that could reach 30 mph in San Diego County, meteorologist Stefanie Sullivan said.

Humidity could drop as low as 20% Tuesday in the county mountains and 15% in the deserts, forecasters said.

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Phishing Campaign Continues to Target Utilities, Evolves Attack Techniques

/in , /by /Utility Diveby Robert Walton

Security firm Proofpoint on Monday revealed that what appears to be a state-sponsored hacking campaign targeting the U.S. utility sector with malware dubbed “Lookback” has continued and grown more sophisticated since it was first revealed this summer.

Proofpoint now says it has identified 17 utilities targeted from April 5 through Aug. 29, employing previously unknown techniques and with later phishing attempts using updated macros to obscure their purpose. The firm’s previous report said it had identified three targeted utilities.

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Water Policy Priorities For A Changing California

/in , , /by /Public Policy Institute of Californiaby Ellen Hanak

How will climate change affect California water management, and what steps should the state take to prepare for these changes? The PPIC Water Policy Center was asked by the Newsom administration to submit formal comments outlining key water policy priorities for the state—and ways to integrate actions across state agencies to implement these priorities. Our recommendations will inform the administration’s preparation of a water resilience portfolio. We address two key areas where the state can play a leading role—modernizing the water grid and protecting freshwater ecosystems.

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Fallbrook PUD Crews Help Paradise Camp Fire Recovery Efforts

/in , , /by /Water News Network

Crews from the Fallbrook Public Utility District are helping rebuild water services in Paradise, Calif. after the devastating November 2018 Camp Fire.

The Camp Fire burned 153,336 acres, destroyed 18,793 structures, caused 85 deaths and three firefighter injuries. The Camp Fire is the deadliest, most destructive fire in California’s history, according to CAL FIRE.

Colter Shannon and Austin Wendt left the FPUD yard Sept. 22 to make the 565-mile, 10-hour drive to Paradise. On Sept. 29, two more FPUD crew members, Toby Stoneburner and Matt Perez, will depart for the Butte County town. Each two-member team will spend two days driving and five days working on repairs for a total of seven days.

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Santa Fe Irrigation Selects Multi-Tiered Structure For Water Rate Increases

/in , /by /Ranchos Santa Fe Reviewby Karen Billing

The Santa Fe Irrigation District board recommended moving forward with a new five-tier rate structure for its proposed three percent water rate increase. The vote was 4-1 with Director Marlene King opposed.

The Santa Fe Irrigation District (SFID) board is expected to make a final decision on the rates by January 2020 to ensure the financial stability of the district and meet its objectives of equity across customer classes and encouraging conservation.

 

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