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Water District Expects to Gain Additional $78K Per Month with New Investment Policy

/in , , /by /Ramona Sentinelby Julie Gallant

A new investment strategy is expected to boost Ramona Municipal Water District’s income by $78,000 each month, with extra earnings arriving as early as February, officials said.

The water district’s directors unanimously approved updates to the agency’s investment policy at their meeting on Jan. 10. The policy allows staff to open accounts with the California Asset Management Program (CAMP) and the San Diego County Treasurer’s Pooled Money Fund.

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7 Billion Gallons of Water Fill Up San Diego Reservoirs, but What Does This Mean for the County’s Drought Levels?

/in , , /by /Fox 5 San Diegoby Sarah Alegre

Given the recent Pacific and atmospheric river storms battering the entire state, San Diego reservoirs are filling up exponentially, especially within the city of San Diego. However, while the recent downpours have helped, it won’t entirely solve the region’s drought situation.

According to the city, local reservoirs have collected seven billion gallons of water from rain and runoff in just the past week alone. That’s enough water to supply all 1.4 million city residents for six weeks.

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Water Conservation Still Necessary for Carlsbad Residents

/in , /by /Patch.comby Ashley Ludwig

Though recent rains have helped, the city of Carlsbad is still striving to conserve water. The rains have helped, but conservation is still needed, according to the Carlsbad City Manager’s office.

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Camarillo’s Desalter Plant Begins Supplying Drinking Water

/in , , /by /VC Starby Brian J. Varela

Camarillo’s North Pleasant Valley Groundwater Desalter began producing drinking water earlier this month, diminishing the city’s reliance on imported water.

The reverse-osmosis desalter, located at 2727 Somis Road, converts unusable brackish groundwater into 1 million gallons of high-quality potable water per day, city staff said in a news release. The plant will be producing about 4 million gallons per day when it is operating at full capacity in two months.

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CA’s Depleting Groundwater in Key Agricultural Region Could Be a Warning Sign for AZ

/in , , /by /KJZZby Greg Hahne

A recent report showed that there is not enough groundwater in a sub-basin surrounding Buckeye to provide the area with a 100-year supply.

That could be a trend seen across the West as a study from ASU found that California’s megadrought has excellent groundwater depletion.

California’s Central Valley covers 20,000 square miles and is a vast agricultural region with a value of approximately $17 billion per year in crops.

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Despite Recent Parade of Storms, California Unveils Drought Resiliency Task Force

/in , , /by /CBS Bay Area

Though the recent barrage of winter storms has certainly improved California’s drought conditions, state water leaders are making moves to prepare for the inevitable dry season soon to come.

On Friday, the California Department of Water Resources kickstarted a partnership between state agencies, local governments, scientists and community members in a new task force, called the Drought Resilience Interagency and Partners Collaborative.

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January Storms Leave L.A. County Flood-Control Dams at Risk of Overflowing

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Louis Sahagun

Now that the shock of a series of January storms has worn off, Los Angeles County officials face a herculean chore: Five reservoirs along south-facing San Gabriel Mountain slopes are filled with so much debris and soupy mud that they pose a flood risk to the communities below.

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If a leak is confirmed, then a repair is scheduled and completed within days of discovery and during normal working hours. Photo: Otay Water District Leak prevention

Annual Leak Detection Program Gets Underway in Otay Water District

/in , /by

As part of its annual preventative maintenance program to safeguard its water supply and reduce water loss, the Otay Water District will conduct leak inspections of its pipeline system beginning January 30. Inspections are expected to continue until April 28.  The District’s contractor, Utility Services Associates, will inspect approximately 171 miles of potable water mains in Spring Valley and Jamul, along with potable and recycled water mains in areas of Chula Vista.

Minor water leaks account for more than a trillion gallons of water wasted each year in homes across the United States. According to the EPA Fix-A-Week-Leak website, each average household with unaddressed leaks can account for 10,000 gallons of water loss every year, enough to wash 300 loads of laundry.

Since 2013, the proactive Leak Detection Program has identified 292 leaks that have been repaired by the District, resulting in an average annual savings of $54,000 per year from reduced water losses. Graphic: Otay Water District leak prevention

Since 2013, the proactive Leak Detection Program has identified 292 leaks that have been repaired by the District, resulting in an average annual savings of $54,000 per year from reduced water losses. Graphic: Otay Water District

For example, the EPA reports a leak just one-32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste 6,300 gallons of water per month.

Since 2013, the proactive Leak Detection Program has identified 292 leaks that have been repaired by the District, resulting in an average annual savings of $54,000 per year from reduced water losses.

“The Otay Water District conducts inspections annually in different communities we serve,” said Otay System Operations Manager Jake Vaclavek. “It is more critical than ever to insure we are not wasting water as we cope with our state’s ongoing megadrought.”

Workers conduct inspections weekdays through April

An effective Leak Detection and Repair Program is one of the main components for water conservation and an important part of asset management. Photo: Otay Water District leak prevention

An effective leak detection and repair program is one of the main components for water conservation and an important part of asset management. Photo: Otay Water District

Customers may see workers inspecting the meter in front of their home or business, typically between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Weekend and night work may also be required. Inspections can range from a few minutes to a full day.

Inspection workers will wear a Utility Services Associates logo and carry company identification. They will not need access to the homes or property of customers. They may contact customers if they need to momentarily shut off their water supply for further testing. Water supply will not be shut off without permission from someone at the home or property.

The Otay Water District will continue its annual leak inspection through April. Photo: Otay Water District

Workers might lift water meter covers, inspect, and attach equipment to meters or valves. If they suspect a leak, the Otay Water District will contact the customer and advise them of the potential leak.

For questions on the Otay Water District Leak Detection Program, contact customer service at (619) 670-2222.

(Editor’s note: The Otay Water District is one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the San Diego County region.) 

Flowers, Flooding and Drought: What Recent Drenching Means for San Diego Region

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Joshua Emerson Smith Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Flowers are blooming in the desert. Flooding and sewage spills have largely receded. Dams continue to collect runoff. But the drought is still far from over.

San Diego recently weathered a monthlong series of storms that also blanketed much of the West with badly needed snow. Still, the possibility of state-mandated water restrictions looms over the region this year, especially if dry conditions return to the Sierra Nevada.

Residents and local officials in San Diego are now taking stock of the situation as the deluges appear to be giving way to sunnier skies. While urban areas are still riddled with potholes and beach closures, rains have revived parched natural landscapes.

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Water Authority Provides Emergency Supplies to Tijuana After Aqueduct Problem

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Quick action by the San Diego County Water Authority and its partner agencies is helping maintain water service in Tijuana after problems with the Mexican border city’s aqueduct began in December.

Emergency water delivery from a cross-border pipeline in Otay Mesa began the first week of January and is scheduled to continue until the end of February.

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