A coalition of county, city and labor officials held a news conference Friday morning to make their case against two North County rural water districts leaving the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA).
In updated numbers released this week, the SDCWA reported that it would cost San Diegans nearly $200 million over a decade if Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Municipal Water District were allowed to leave the 24-member agency.
La Mesa Vice Mayor Colin Parent said that was unfair to his constituents. The Helix Water District, which services La Mesa, was projected to pay an additional $1.2 million-plus if those two agencies leave.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngMike Lee2023-07-09 10:44:252023-07-09 10:45:16County Leaders Rally Against Water ‘Divorce’ With Fallbrook and Rainbow
The communities of Fallbrook and Rainbow are requesting to join a water district based in Riverside, saying water in San Diego is too expensive.
However, those who oppose the move say it will leave others paying $200 million more for water over the next decade.
A vote is expected at the County Administration Center on Monday that would address the request from Fallbrook and Rainbow to get their water from an agency in Riverside County.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngMike Lee2023-07-09 10:43:272023-07-09 10:45:49Fallbrook and Rainbow Look to Leave the San Diego County Water Authority to Save Money
California’s Imperial Valley is one of the few places where a 95 degree day can be described as unseasonably cool.
In the shade of a sissoo tree, with a dry breeze rustling its leaves, JB Hamby called the weather “pretty nice” for mid-June. Over his shoulder, sprinklers ticked away over a field of onions. Every few minutes, a tractor rumbled across the broiling asphalt of a nearby road.
Hamby is a water policy bigwig, especially around these parts. He helps shape policies that define how water is used by arguably the most influential water users along the Colorado River. Hamby holds two jobs – he serves on the board of directors for the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and was recently appointed to be California’s top water negotiator.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngMike Lee2023-07-09 10:42:522023-07-09 11:31:11Meet the Colorado River’s Newest – and Youngest – Power Player
Thunderstorms high in the Cascades recently stirred up a lot of dirt in a central Washington river, causing problems for people on its banks.
All the dirt in the Naches River was too much for the city of Yakima’s water treatment plant to handle. Cities and towns could see situations like this happen more often as the climate continues to change.
Climate change will cause more storm runoff, change when snowpack melts and lead to more severe wildfires and harmful algal blooms, said Amanda Hohner. She studies how post-wildfire runoff affects drinking water treatment plants.
“At least in the Western U.S., the effects of wildfire and also climate change are really starting to challenge drinking water treatment plants, resulting in different water quality than maybe those water treatment plants were designed for,” Hohner said.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngMike Lee2023-07-09 10:42:352023-07-10 13:22:48Northwest Drinking Water Concerns Could Get Worse as the Climate Changes
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngMike Lee2023-07-09 10:41:352023-07-09 11:31:22Denver Metro Counts its Water Savings After Wet Year
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria joined with regional agriculture, business, water, and elected leaders on July 7 to oppose a potential $200 million water bill increase for ratepayers across San Diego County.
“The proposed action will have significant, long-term economic impacts to most households in San Diego County. Nearly every family and business will see an increase in their water rates,” Mayor Gloria said. “The cost of living is a continuous struggle for many San Diegans and these proposed rate increases are unacceptable.”
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngMike Lee2023-07-09 10:40:372023-07-09 11:37:02Regional Leaders Seek to Protect Ratepayers from $200M Water Bill
Ahead of next week’s controversial vote on the detachment of two North County water districts from the San Diego County Water Authority, several local leaders voiced their concern for how the proposed divorce could impact water rates.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngMike Lee2023-07-09 10:39:242023-07-09 11:31:54Local Leaders Voice Concern Ahead of Vote on North County Water District Separation
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria joined with regional agriculture, business, water, and elected leaders on Friday to oppose a potential $200 million water bill increase for ratepayers across San Diego County.
“The proposed action will have significant, long-term economic impacts to most households in San Diego County. Nearly every family and business will see an increase in their water rates,” Mayor Gloria said. “The cost of living is a continuous struggle for many San Diegans and these proposed rate increases are unacceptable.”
Chair Nora Vargas of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors commented on the proposal’s impact on low-income residents and the lack of a countywide vote. “An unnecessary increase in water bills means taking money away each month from hardworking families who can least afford it,” she said. “Not only will this detachment proposal lead to higher water bills, we also won’t have a say in the matter.”
Jerry Sanders, President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, said it’s counterproductive to saddle businesses with additional bills. “This proposal would shift millions in added costs onto local businesses, many of which operate on thin margins,” Sanders said. “Our businesses face so many threats to success. Let’s not add to these challenges with an unnecessary water rate hike.”
A new study indicates original LAFCO cost estimates of detachment are as much as 50% below the true price tag, as much as $200 million. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
Cost Analysis of Detachment Called Flawed
Two water agencies in Fallbrook and Rainbow seek to leave the San Diego County Water Authority without paying the full cost of investments made on their behalf over the past several decades. On July 10, the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission’s (LAFCO) board is expected to vote on the “detachment” proposal, possibly with the inclusion of a limited “exit fee” for Fallbrook and Rainbow. However, LAFCO’s figures are based on years-old data and flawed projections that understate the annual costs of detachment by at least 50%.
Updated figures released this week show that disadvantaged communities, working families, farmers, and others across San Diego County will be forced to pay nearly $200 million more over the next decade for water service unless the agencies seeking to leave the Water Authority are required to fully cover their costs. LAFCO’s data don’t reflect the inflationary realities or the fact that the financial impacts of detachment will continue far beyond LAFCO’s five-year horizon.
“I am deeply concerned that LAFCO could make this momentous decision without ensuring the accuracy of the costs of detaching from the Water Authority or allowing residents countywide to vote on this scheme,” said Water Authority Board Chair Mel Katz.
LAFCO’s staff recommendation to approve the detachment plan does not include a substantive analysis of impacts to disadvantaged communities or to agriculture in the Water Authority service area. Nor does it include the environmental analysis required by law.
Agriculture Deeply Affected By Proposal
“We all care about the cost of water because it’s a major factor for most farms,” said Frank Hilliker,” Board Chair of the Lakeside Water District and a long-time egg farmer in East County. “If Fallbrook and Rainbow water agencies don’t pay their costs, it hurts farmers like me who will be forced to pay more. I urge LAFCO to make sure that they require full cost coverage by Fallbrook and Rainbow to protect our region’s agriculture industry.”
A coalition of government, community, business, labor, agriculture, and water leaders joined together today to collectively urge San Diego LAFCO to vote no on detachment at its meeting on Monday, July 10. These leaders include:
Mayor Todd Gloria, City of San Diego
Chair Nora Vargas, San Diego County Board of Supervisors
Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, City of San Diego
Vice Mayor Colin Parent, City of La Mesa
District Director Janet Chin, Office of Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, District 77
Chair Mel Katz, San Diego County Water Authority
Vice Chair Nick Serrano, San Diego County Water Authority
Board Chair Frank Hilliker, Lakeside Water District & East County Farmer
President & CEO Jerry Sanders, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Vice President Carol Kim, San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council
Vice Chair Gail Goldberg, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/PressConf.7.7.2023.CN_.016-845X450.jpg450845Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2023-07-07 14:29:222023-07-07 15:42:37Regional Leaders Seek to Protect Ratepayers from $200M Water Bill
Chula Vista, Calif. – At its meeting on June 28, Sweetwater Authority named Catalina Schultz of National City this year’s winner of the WaterSmart Landscape Contest. Schultz’s landscape demonstrates how homeowners can create a beautiful, California friendly landscape using less water.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/SWAbluelake-LR.png200200Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngMike Lee2023-07-07 10:39:282023-07-07 10:39:28WaterSmart Landscape Contest Winner Saves Water, Adds Beauty to National City Home
The San Diego County Water Authority warned Wednesday that it could cost county water customers nearly $200 million over a decade if two rural districts detach from the authority.
In an email to county political leaders, Water Authority Board Chair Mel Katz said a proposed exit fee of $4.8 million a year for five years “isn’t close to covering the actual costs that will be shifted to residents elsewhere in the county.”
The Fallbrook Public Utility District and the Rainbow Municipal Water District are seeking to join the Eastern Municipal Water District in Riverside County in hopes of securing lower-cost water for farmers.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Mike Leehttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngMike Lee2023-07-07 09:41:322023-07-07 09:46:58Water Authority Warns Exit by Fallbrook, Rainbow Could Cost County Residents $200 Million
Sweetwater Authority Logo 2019
