While this week’s atmospheric river drenched Southern California with record-breaking rainfall, some water managers were busy capturing some of that runoff to save for dry days ahead. Others were busy fending off an environmental disaster.
California is expected to receive more rainfall by Friday from an atmospheric river storm than what Lake Mead in Nevada—the largest reservoir in the U.S.—can hold, meteorologists have said, as the state continues to face the threat of flooding.
Drinking water in the United States is at risk, scientists have said, as nitrogen pollution seems to be increasing.
The violent second wave of a massive Pacific storm lashed San Diego County on Tuesday, bringing enough rain to flood the San Diego River and thunderstorms that led to a brief — and rare — tornado warning.
Registration is now open for the 2024 Women in Water Symposium. The event returns for its seventh year with a full-day event on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Cuyamaca College.
While open to all participants, the full-day, in-person program theme is “Empowering The Next Generation of Women.” It offers valuable opportunities for networking, education, and career growth. The program combines insightful panel discussions with dynamic speaker sessions.
The conference is designed to help participants develop new skills, connect with their industry colleagues, and make meaningful strides in their careers.
“Our Women in Water Symposium brings together exceptional women from all areas of the water industry, along with talented women in training and those interested in water industry career opportunities,” said event chairperson Maria Rose, a management analyst with the San Diego County Water Authority.
“This annual symposium offers an unparalleled opportunity to listen and learn from your peers and leaders across San Diego County.”
Attendees at the 2024 Women in Water Symposium on March 21, 2024 have an opportunity to speak with water and wastewater industry leaders. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
Planned sessions address career development, leadership, mentoring, interviewing and negotiation tips, diversity, and dealing with change. The day concludes with a networking opportunity at the Water Conservation Garden.
General admission is $35. Attendance is free for students, educators, and counselors. Event registration is available online.
Event details and updates will be posted at the Cuyamaca College Center for Water Studies website.
City of Escondido Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Carrie Selby is among a growing number of women working in water and wastewater industry careers. Photo: City of Escondido
The water and wastewater industry offers vast opportunities in engineering, operations, finance, public affairs, human resources, administration, and information technology.
Since 2017, the Water Authority’s “Faces of the Water Industry” campaign has highlighted nearly 200 employees in San Diego County across multiple water agencies and job types.
The informational campaign is designed to introduce the wide variety of career opportunities available at all skill levels with an emphasis on welcoming a wide-ranging talent pool of candidates, including women.
Approximately 4,500 professionals serve the San Diego region in water and wastewater careers. More than 1,400 of those workers are expected to reach retirement age within the next five years. Water and wastewater treatment plant operators in California earn an annual mean wage of more than $77,890 in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. California is one of the states with the greatest employment opportunities in this career field.
The extraordinary plume of subtropical moisture that moved ashore Monday was continuing to drench San Diego County Tuesday morning in what could turn out to be nearly a week’s worth of messy weather.
Evidence highlighting the effects of climate change – and its increasing impact on our societies – is indisputable. 2023 saw a flurry of extreme weather events across the world. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded 28 weather and climate disasters in the United States alone, topping the previous high of 22 events during 2020.
Sunday’s powerful storm brought a big boost to the Sierra snowpack. Here’s a look at some weekend totals and an update to the snowpack water content. On Monday morning, ski resorts in the Tahoe Basin and along the Sierra Crest were reporting two to four feet of snow since Saturday morning.
In the dry, desert air of Las Vegas, it seems strange to be talking about a plentiful source of water all around us. Southern Nevada is in the grip of one of the worst droughts it has experienced in recorded history, leading to water shortages and restrictions on use.
