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State Water Board Declares Treated Wastewater, Reuse Water Safe from Coronavirus

Sanitation experts have determined that existing treatment plant disinfection processes successfully disinfect wastewater containing the COVID-19 virus.

Municipal wastewater treatment plants in California go beyond minimum requirements and provide additional tertiary filtration treatment to meet stringent State Water Board public health standards for water disposal or water recycling whenever there is a risk to the public.

The State and Regional Water Boards establish and enforce stringent municipal wastewater treatment and water recycling standards in order to protect drinking water sources including surface and ground water bodies. Wastewater treatment is an essential function, and this work continues during the COVID-19 emergency.

Tank Cleaning Program Helps Vallecitos Water District Maintain Safe Water Supply

Seventeen above ground steel tanks and two underground concrete reservoirs play a vital role in the Vallecitos Water District’s mission to provide clean, safe, and reliable water to its 105,000 district residents. Maintenance and cleaning of the tanks and reservoirs is a critically important process.

Without regular washouts, tanks can accumulate large amounts of sediment, prohibiting proper inspections.

 

As a Dying Salton Sea Spews Harmful Dust, Imperial Valley Water Wars Heat Up Again

The people of California’s Imperial Valley can be as unforgiving as the region’s harsh desert climate. It’s been 16 years since Bruce Kuhn cast the fateful vote to transfer tens of billions of gallons of Colorado River water from the valley’s sprawling farms to thirsty coastal cities, reshaping water politics in California and across the West.

Opinion: Opportunities are Plentiful to Sustain California Agriculture in the Face of Water Supply Uncertainties 

There is no evidence supporting the author’s claim that the San Joaquin Valley’s water supply challenges are linked to California’s food security or the rise in foreign produce imports.

Senate Water Bills Need More Funding Due to Pandemic: Witnesses

Two bipartisan draft water infrastructure bills unveiled this week by the Senate environment committee are a good start but will need even more funding in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, water agencies and other groups said Wednesday.

During Crisis, Water Treatment Workers Living at Plants

Among the many disruptions to working life wrought by the spread of coronavirus has been the outsized pressure put on the world’s essential services. For those ensuring that Americans continue to enjoy clean water in their homes, that has meant living at their places of work.

Across the country, drinking water utility workers have been sleeping at treatment facilities to minimize their exposure to COVID-19 and maintain services as many other Americans self-isolate in their homes.

 

KBRA Releases Report Assigning AA+ and Stable Outlook to Public Facilities Financing Authority of the City of San Diego Senior Water Revenue Bonds Series 2020 A&B

On April 20, 2022, Kroll Bond Rating Agency assigned a long-term rating of AA+ and Stable Outlook to the Public Facilities Financing Authority of the City of San Diego Senior Water Revenue Bonds Series 2020A (Tax-Exempt) and Series 2020B (Federally Taxable).

ConEd COVID-19 Cases Grow Past 350 as Utilities Forced to Adjust Pre-Pandemic Emergency Plans

Utilities responding to the challenges of COVID-19 have adapted practices developed for past emergency situations, but physical distancing requirements of the pandemic response in some instances have forced entirely new ways of approaching safety measures.

Consolidated Edison has been utilizing two sets of command and support staff in separate locations, as more than 350 of its employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and eight have died. In the future, more will be done in advance to determine which employees are essential and to ensure remote-work capabilities, according to Anthony Natale, a member of ConEd’s emergency preparedness team.

For municipal utilities, grid operations have become tightly enmeshed with other critical services like police, fire and health providers, according to Lincoln Bleveans, assistant general manager for power supply at Burbank Water & Power.