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How San Diego County’s Water Conservation Efforts Have Prepared Them for Severe Drought Conditions

/in , , /by /ABC 7 Los Angeles by Reporter: Phillip Palmer and Videographer Darryl Kim Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

California will soak up some much needed rain this week on the heels of a sobering decision from the state to drastically reduce water distribution to the Los Angeles area due to our ongoing drought.

Meanwhile, the San Diego County Water Authority gets less than 1% of its water from the state, a remarkable difference from the 95% the agency received from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California in the early 1990s. Conservation became a way of life in San Diego. Water use per day has been reduced by 50% since 1990 and remains consistent with levels seen during our last drought between 2012 and 2016.

Conservation a way of life in San Diego County

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10 Minutes With Sandra Kerl

/in , , /by /BC WaterNews (Brown and Caldwell)by Wendy Broley and Mike Puccio Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Sandra Kerl recently sat down with Brown and Caldwell’s Wendy Broley, director of technical practices, and Mike Puccio, Southern California operations director, to talk about her experience dealing with unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires, and drought.

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Make the Most of Rainfall

/in , , /by /Water News Network

On the rare and welcome occasions when San Diego County gets rainfall, the water runoff from hard surfaces around the home such as roofs and patios should be re-directed to your permeable landscaping. By capturing as much rainwater as possible in the soil, it is possible to build an ecosystem that can last through the summer months with minimal additional irrigation.

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Daily Showers Paving The Way For Heavy Rain Next Week

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Paul Duginski, Hayley Smith

Light to moderate precipitation in Southern California on Thursday may pave the way for a much stronger Pacific storm early next week, forecasters said.

Thursday’s drizzle is expected to deliver about a quarter-inch of rain to the Los Angeles area — only slightly more than the rainfall totals earlier this week — and taper off by the early evening.

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With The Colorado River in Crisis, Those Who Decide Its Future Gather Under One Roof

/in , , /by /KUNCby Alex Hager

The river that supplies water to about 40 million people is getting worryingly dry. Since the federal government officially declared a water shortage this summer, the Colorado River has been thrust into national headlines, and so have the scientists and decision makers who track and shape its future.

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Californians Could Face Up to $500 Fines for Wasting Water Amid Drought

/in , /by /FOX 5 San Diegoby Jaime Chambers Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

California’s drought crisis is pushing officials to call for 15% reductions in water usage in communities throughout the state. Those found wasting water now could end up fined up to $500 a day, a new proposal from the California State Water Resources Control Board shows.

Under proposed emergency regulations, code enforcement offices could look for water wasters with those observed washing cars without a shutoff nozzle or residents watering lawns within 48 hours of a rain event potentially subjected to fines. The resolution will be considered by the state board in a Jan. 4 meeting.

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EPA Invites 39 New Projects to Apply for Water Infrastructure Loans

/in , , /by /Water & Wastes Digestby Cristina Tuser

Four projects are being added to a waitlist as well. According to the EPA, as funds become available, $6.7 billion in WIFIA loans will help finance over $15 billion in water infrastructure projects to protect public health and water quality across 24 states.

“Far too many communities still face significant water challenges, making these transformative investments in water infrastructure so crucial,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in the EPA news release. “The WIFIA invited projects will deliver major benefits like the creation of good-paying jobs and the safeguarding of public health, especially in underserved and under-resourced communities. This program is a shining example of the public health and economic opportunities that will be achieved under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

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Some In California Have to Limit Their Daily Water Usage to 55 gallons. Here’s What That Means for Everyday Activities

/in , , /by /CBS Newsby Carter Evans

Extreme drought in California is forcing drastic measures on the 200,000 residents in Marin County. They have been told to cut their water usage to just 55 gallons a day.

A 10-minute shower uses about 25 gallons. A load of laundry uses 40 gallons of water. A single sprinkler head can spray out 15 gallons per minute.

The new restrictions mean no refilling swimming pools or fountains. Residents can’t wash their car in their driveways, and outdoor irrigation is prohibited.

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Leaking California Oil Pipe’s Safeguards Not Fully Working

/in , /by /Associated Pressby Brian Melley, Matthew Brown

The ruptured offshore pipeline that spilled tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil off the Southern California coast this fall did not have a fully functioning leak detection system at the time, according to a report obtained by The Associated Press.

The report was compiled by pipeline operator, Beta Offshore, a subsidiary of Houston-based Amplify Energy, and filed with federal regulators. It reveals Amplify is investigating whether personnel or control room issues contributed to the accident but does not explain what was wrong with the detection system.

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Opinion: Dick Spotswood: Group Behind Water Pipeline Lawsuit Should Exhibit Transparency

/in , /by /Marin Indepedent Journalby Dick Spotwood
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that someone filed a lawsuit to stop the Marin Municipal Water District’s proposed water pipelines across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.

This is another example that in America — alone in the developed world — when anyone is displeased with decisions made by elected officials they instantly go to court. The result is inevitable whether or not the disgruntled claimants ultimately lose their case. Taxpayers and water users will pay more to fund the litigation and endure cost increases resulting when projects are interminably delayed.

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