Features Archives

Rainwater Harvesting Workshops Begin September 27 in Lakeside

September 11, 2025/in Features, Supply & Demand, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

The County of San Diego’s Waterscape Rebate Program will host rainwater harvesting workshops throughout the fall months of 2025. It’s an ideal time for homeowners to explore their options for water-saving improvements that also benefit the San Diego region’s watershed.

The first rainwater harvesting workshop scheduled for Fall 2025 takes place on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the Lakeside Library, 12428 Woodside Ave, Lakeside.

As more rainwater harvesting workshops are scheduled, they will be listed on the County of San Diego’s Rainwater Harvesting webpage here. For more information, email .

Rebates For Water-Saving Improvements

Workshops can help San Diego County residents, businesses, and agricultural producers get cash rebates for water-saving improvements like efficient landscaping and irrigation upgrades. Photo: County of San Diego

The Waterscape Rebate Program helps San Diego County residents, businesses, and agricultural producers get cash rebates for water-saving improvements like efficient landscaping and irrigation upgrades.

The County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program (WPP) is dedicated to protecting the environment by preventing pollutants from entering local waterways. Funding the rebate program is one of many strategies for protecting water quality in our region.

When businesses and households make changes to reduce water use and use rainwater in their landscapes, we preserve healthy, safe waterways, more reliable water supplies, and can achieve costs savings at the same time.

If you live in unincorporated San Diego AND receive your water from the San Diego County Water Authority and their member agencies, you are eligible for ALL rebates listed under the County program.

If you live in an incorporated city, including the City of San Diego, there are numerous rebates available for residents. Visit SoCal WaterSmart, the City of San Diego’s rebate page, or your local water agency’s website to learn more. Not sure who your water agency is? Find your water district here.

The Watershed Protection Program partners with Environmental Incentives to manage and distribute rebates to program participants. Other rebates are offered and distributed by program partners, the San Diego County Water Authority and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (through SoCal Water$mart).

The Waterscape Rebate Program supports a wide range of yard sizes and home setups. While using a contractor is not required, your project must follow all program requirements to qualify for a rebate.

Reduce Water Use, Save Money and Environment

Learning how to reduce your water use benefits your wallet along with the watershed. Photo: County of San Diego

During San Diego County’s limited periods of rainfall, any rainwater captured from your roof and property saves money. It also helps the region maintain its water supplies.

Workshops introduce residents to several beautiful, efficient ways to save rainwater. In addition to rain barrels, directing downspouts to fill containers lets you choose how to use the rainwater you capture. The overflow should empty onto your yard or a landscape feature to infiltrate the excess flow into the soil. Rain chains can assist with this.

By using a rain barrel, San Diegans can collect water for later use, reduce runoff to the ocean, and save money on their water bill. Reducing runoff from driveways, streets, and sidewalks also keeps harmful pollutants from reaching beaches and waterways. Instead, we can redirect fresh rainwater to our plants that need it most.

Just one inch of rain yields 600 gallons per 1000 sq. ft. of roof space, depending on your roof configuration. That’s a lot of free, fresh water for San Diegans to divert and help their plants thrive. In addition to diverting rainwater, the rain barrels provided can store up to 50 gallons of rainwater for later use in a mosquito-proof container.

The County is committed to protecting the water quality in the region’s creeks, streams, and coastal areas. Runoff from irrigation, storms, and even faulty septic systems can bring pollutants to our waterways and threaten public health.

How Rain Barrel Rebates Work

After you purchase items eligible for rebates and have installed them, you can apply for rebates. Current rain barrel rebates are $35 and limited to two per household for most San Diego County residents. You can submit for multiple projects. Learn more at SoCal Water Smart.

For additional details on conservation rebate programs and to order rain barrels, visit the Solana Center For Environmental Innovation website for more information on rebate programs and to order rain barrels.

Water Leaders Discuss the Future of the Colorado River

September 10, 2025/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan Beane

The San Diego County Water Authority and partners convened an expert panel conversation on the future of the Colorado River for a packed room of Citizen Water Academy alumni and special guests on Sept. 5. The conversation, co-sponsored by the San Diego Global Affairs Council and the Burnam Center for Community Advancement and titled “The Future of the Colorado River”, comes as the deadline for negotiations on new river allocations approaches at the end of this year.

Panelists for the event also included Sally Spener, Foreign Affairs Officer with the International Boundary and Water Commission; Dan Denham, General Manager with the San Diego County Water Authority; Tina Shields, Water Department Manager with the Imperial Irrigation District; Jordan Joaquin Member and Past President of the Quechan Indian Tribe of Fort Yuma Indian Reservation and Carlos A. de la Parra, Founding Partner, with Centro Luken de Estrategias en Agua y Medio Ambiente in Tijuana.

Panelists at the “Future of the Colorado River” event put on by the San Diego County Water Authority.

Water Authority Board Chair Nick Serrano kicked things off, recognizing both the tenuous conditions on the ground but also the opportunities ahead.

“This is truly an extraordinary, unprecedented time for so many reasons,” Serrano said. “I believe history will look back on this moment as one where Southern California came together to secure the future of the Colorado River — not just for ourselves but for all those who depend on it.”

The speakers weighed in on the past, present and future of the Colorado River – with an emphasis on ongoing negotiations among the basin states and other interest groups on how to share this precious resource and what that holds for the 40 million residents of seven states, two countries and tribal nations who depend on this lifeline.

From the impacts of climate change, the perspective of the tribes and Mexico and a deep discussion on where things stand with negotiations on water use from the Colorado River, this lively conversation was both a cautionary conversation about the obstacles ahead but also included notes of optimism about where things are headed.

“I do think there is hope and I think that hope comes from the sense of urgency we all have to embrace,” said Denham.

Tom Weese, son of Robert and Bessie Weese and historian Kristie Hawthorne perform the ribbon cutting at the new location of the Weese Oceanside History Center with members of the Oceanside Historical Society. Photo: Zach Cordner/The Osider.

Oceanside History Center’s New Home Named After Water Pioneer

September 3, 2025/in Education, Features, Heroes /by Gayle Falkenthal

The Oceanside Historical Society opened the Weese Oceanside History Center at its new permanent home with a ribbon-cutting on August 29. It is now located at 510 Civic Center Drive next to The Star Theatre.

The Weese Oceanside History Center is named in honor of Robert and Bessie Weese. Robert Weese dedicated more than 40 years of service to the City of Oceanside Water Department and to the San Diego region as a San Diego County Water Authority board member. He was known as “Mr. Water” for his expertise.

Weese Honored For 40 Years of Water Industry Service

Robert A. Weese worked for the City of Oceanside water department for 40 years. Photo: City of Oceanside

Weese, a native of Ontario, Canada, came to the U.S. and became a naturalized citizen after serving in the Canadian Army as a teenager. He drove an ambulance in England during World War I.

He joined the U.S. Navy in 1924 and was stationed on the USS Arizona based in San Diego. After meeting and marrying his wife Bessie, he was discharged from the Navy and went to work for the Oceanside Water Department as a meter reader, beginning a life of service in the water industry.

Weese gained a firsthand knowledge of the water system by reading and repairing every water meter in Oceanside, and through weekly checks of the city’s wells and the water table. In 1935, the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a new pumping station and reservoir at Buddy Todd Park, where Weese would chlorinate the water.

In 1938, Weese was appointed Oceanside’s Water Superintendent, a position he held until his retirement in 1968.

Weese had the foresight to divert sewer effluent away from the Pacific Ocean into Whelan Lake. He also proposed an underground barrier at the mouth of the San Luis Rey River as a means of holding back the ocean during periods when the water table was pumped below sea level.

Tom Weese, son of Robert and Bessie Weese, in front of an exhibit honoring his parents at the Reese Oceanside History Center. Photo: Zach Cordner/The Osider.

Tom Weese, son of Robert and Bessie Weese, in front of an exhibit honoring his parents at the Weese Oceanside History Center. Photo: Zach Cordner/The Osider.

Weese wrote a history of the water department, which was published in the Oceanside Blade Tribune newspaper. He oversaw the building of the Fire Mountain Reservoir in 1955.

In addition to serving as chairman of the Water Authority’s Engineering and Operations Committee, Weese was a member of the State Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Feather River Project Association, the American Water Works Association, and other water-related organizations. Weese also served as a director of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce.

Oceanside’s water treatment plant, built in 1983, was named the Robert A. Weese Filtration Plant.

New Exhibit Space Includes Weese Papers

Tom Weese, son of Robert and Bessie Weese, speaks at the August 29 ribbon cutting event for the relocated Reese Oceanside History Center as historian Kristi Hawthorne looks on. Photo: Zach Cordner/The Osider.

Tom Weese, son of Robert and Bessie Weese, speaks at the August 29 ribbon-cutting event for the relocated Weese Oceanside History Center as historian Kristi Hawthorne looks on. Photo: Zach Cordner/The Osider.

The new location of the Weese Oceanside History Center has more than 3,000 square feet of exhibits spanning a century from the 1880s to the 1980s. Among the exhibits is a collection of Weese’s personal and professional papers, donated by his son Thomas Weese in 2022.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission to the history center is free.

The September 6 Open House event will feature OMWD departments and customer programs, and OMWD and Leucadia Wastewater District will display several of their specialized utility vehicles. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

OMWD & First Responders Host Open House and Emergency Preparedness Event on Sept. 6

September 2, 2025/in Education, Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

The Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) invites residents to attend an informative Open House and Emergency Preparedness Event in collaboration with the Encinitas Fire Department, Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District, San Diego Gas & Electric, and other local agencies on Saturday, September 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

The event will take place at the district’s headquarters, located at 1966 Olivenhain Road in Encinitas.

The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District will lead a wildfire prevention workshop and display a fire engine (events permitting). Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Safeguard Your Home: Water-Smart and Fire-Wise Landscaping Workshop

As part of the open house, OMWD offers a free Water-Smart and Fire-Wise Landscaping Workshop from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

As peak wildfire season approaches, this free workshop offers waterwise landscaping tips, wildfire emergency preparedness resources, and expert advice in a fun, family-friendly setting.

“We’re giving our neighbors the tools to protect their homes and their families, while also sharing more about the critical services that Olivenhain Municipal Water District provides every day,” said OMWD Board Director Ebin Lanfried. “As wildfires and other emergencies become an even greater challenge in our region, it’s essential that we prepare together.”

Presentations will be provided by California Landscape Technologies, Encinitas Fire Department, and Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. Learn tips on water-efficient landscaping, firescaping techniques, and how to protect your property against wildfires.

The workshop is free, but registration is required at www.olivenhain.com/events.

Open House Highlights OMWD Customer Programs

The OMWD Open House and Emergency Preparedness Event offers a variety of displays and informational booths. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

The OMWD Open House event will feature informational booths showcasing OMWD departments and customer programs, as well as local fire department emergency preparedness efforts.

OMWD and Leucadia Wastewater District will display several of their specialized utility vehicles.

The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District and Encinitas Fire Department plan to exhibit a fire truck and engine at the event (if not responding to area emergencies).

Paramedics from American Medical Response ambulance service will demonstrate CPR techniques and display a specialized response vehicle.

The Olivenhain Municipal Water District Open House offers family-friendly activities along with informational emergency preparedness workshops and exhibits. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Booths from area organizations include:

OMWD departments will provide information, answer questions, and discuss free programs.
San Diego Gas & Electric, San Diego County Water Authority, and Leucadia Wastewater District will present their programs and services.
Booths representing Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District and Encinitas Fire Department will provide wildfire and emergency preparedness advice and materials.
Local elementary students will showcase their environmentally focused projects.

The sustainable landscape demonstration garden at the Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s (OMWD) headquarters provides customers with examples of water-efficient landscaping techniques that can save water and money.

The sustainable landscape demonstration garden at the Olivenhain Municipal Water District headquarters provides customers with examples of water-efficient landscaping techniques that can save water and money. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Attendees can tour OMWD’s California-friendly demonstration garden, which exhibits water-efficient plants, and emphasizes key principles of sustainable landscaping.

Participants can take part in family-oriented activities, enjoy refreshments, and receive a complimentary emergency preparedness and water-efficiency kit, while supplies last.

Winning Student Artwork Spotlights the Value of Water in Otay Student Poster Contest

August 21, 2025/in Education, Features /by Gayle Falkenthal

Five student artists were named the winners of the Otay Water District’s 2025 “Being Water Wise is…” Student Poster Contest for best illustrating the value of water. The annual contest invites K-12 grade students attending schools in the District’s service area to submit their artwork.

Students learn about the importance of a clean, reliable water supply in the classroom through the Otay Water District’s educational program, which promotes water-use efficiency through art, and turn what they’ve learned into the award-winning posters.

Students Inspire Others To Protect Vital Resource

“We are grateful for all who participate in our program and help share the many ways to use water wisely, whether at home or outdoors,” said Eileen Salmeron, Otay’s communications assistant and contest coordinator. “We hope our young generation will continue to inspire others to join in the effort in protecting this vital resource.”

This year’s high school winner, Zhaoyu Zhai, captivated the judges with his drawing of an alien figure named Adrian taking a short shower, alongside the message “Short Showers Save Water.” Adrian is part of an ongoing character series that he has been developing over the past two years and has applied to other creative projects.

“As a parent, we’ve seen how passionate Zhaoyu is about these characters,” said Zhaoyu’s mother Huiyu Li. “His work includes both hand-drawn illustrations and digital pieces that combine drawing with animation and editing. His inspiration often comes from everyday life and his creative imagination.”

Winners Advance to Regional Southern California Competition

Although there were no middle school submissions, winners were selected in the kindergarten-third grade, fourth-sixth grade, and high school categories. The District recognized the winners at its Aug. 6 Board of Directors meeting with a gift card, certificate, art kit, and a goody bag.

The 2025 Student Poster Contest winners include:

K-Third Grade Category:

Second grader Ethan Quintero-Ramos, won in the elementary school category. Photo: Otay Water District

First Place: Ethan Quintero-Ramos, Second Grade, Olympic View Elementary

First grader Jacob Irons won second place in the K-Third Grade Category. Photo: Otay Water District

Second Place: Jacob Irons, First Grade, Discovery Charter Elementary

Fourth – Sixth Grade Category:

Mila Vega's winning artwork won first place in the sixth grade category. Photo: Otay Water District

Mila Vega’s winning artwork won first place in the fourth to sixth grade category. Photo: Otay Water District

First Place: Mila Vega, Fifth Grade, Valle Lindo Elementary

Sophie Coghill’s poster won second place in the fourth to sixth grade category. Photo: Otay Water District

Second Place: Sophie Coghill, Fifth Grade, Tiffany Elementary

High School Category:

Zhaoyu Zhai’s creative alien theme won the high school category. Photo: Otay Water District

First Place: Zhaoyu Zhai, Ninth Grade, Otay Ranch High School

The posters now advance to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s regional contest, for a chance to be featured in MWD’s 2026 Art Calendar. The winners will be announced later this year.

Otay Water District students have won the regional contest and been included in the Metropolitan calendar the past three years, including Ava Fabunan from Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in 2025; Sofia Cardenas Loera of STEAM Academy and Sophia Garvida of Bonita Vista Middle School in 2024; and Christian Rogacion from Thurgood Marshall Elementary School and Khilee Haull from Hillsdale Middle School in 2023.

Winning posters are online at otaywater.gov/poster-contest-winners-2025.

Janet Chambers replace the grass at her new home with plants native pollinators love. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Pollinator Paradise Wins 2025 Vista Irrigation District Landscape Contest

August 20, 2025/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

The Vista Irrigation District board of directors recognized Janet Chambers as the district’s 2025 WaterSmart Landscape Contest winner at its August meeting.

Chambers moved into her current residence about 11 years ago. The original yard consisted of a plain-looking lawn and one large Liquidambar tree. Because the existing lawn consumed a tremendous amount of water and provided little benefit, she decided to make a change.

Replacing Grass With Flowering Plants for Pollinators

The new landscape features a wide variety of blooming plants in bright colors. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Chambers began by removing her turf and installing a decomposed granite path and a cobblestone sitting area; she then set out to create a drought-tolerant garden with an emphasis on providing flowering plants for pollinators, such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Once the new garden was installed, the change in her front yard’s character was dramatic.

“Now the garden is alive with constant movement of pollinators, and it’s a joy to sit on my cobblestone patio and watch all of the activity,” said Chambers.

Chambers says the garden does not require pesticides or herbicides and practically takes care of itself by reseeding empty areas on its own. She waters the landscape with a drip system several times weekly during the summer months. She is able to turn off the irrigation system during wetter winter months.

Annual Contest Highlights Value of Watersmart Landscapes

Janet Chambers added a Small Little Library to her vibrant, watersmart landscape. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

The annual contest recognizes outstanding water-wise residential landscapes based on the criteria of overall attractiveness, appropriate plant selection, design, appropriate maintenance, and efficient methods of irrigation.

“Free regional WaterSmart landscape workshops are available online and in person to assist homeowners to upgrade their home’s landscape to reduce water bills,” said Sandra Sanchez, Vista Irrigation District water conservation specialist.

“Additionally, landscape conversion rebates, such as for turf replacement, are available to help with the cost.”

The district joined eleven other local agencies that held landscape contests this year, providing an opportunity to highlight water-wise residential landscapes throughout the region. Participating agencies (besides Vista Irrigation District) include Helix Water District, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, Otay Water District, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, San Dieguito Water District, Sweetwater Authority, Vallecitos Water District, California American Water, Rincon Del Diablo Water District, and the cities of Escondido and Oceanside.

For more information about the contest and to see more examples of WaterSmart landscaping, visit www.landscapecontest.com . Visit the district’s website at www.vidwater.org or call 760-597-3160 to find out more about free landscape workshops and incentive programs

A wildlife and pollinator friendly landscape project is the 2025 winner of the San Dieguito Water District landscape makeover contest. Photo: San Dieguito Water District

Haven for Wildlife and Pollinators Wins San Dieguito Water District 2025 Landscape Makeover Contest

August 18, 2025/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

The transformation of an Encinitas yard into a sustainable landscape providing habitat for wildlife and pollinators is the 2025 winner of the San Dieguito Water District’s annual landscape contest.

Wildlife biologist Shea Okeefe said when she decided to take on the landscape project, she drew on her professional expertise as a scientist.

“When we decided to re-landscape our yard, I wanted to include vegetation that was beneficial to local wildlife, including pollinators of all shapes and sizes,” said Okeefe.

Landscape Project Protects Local Watershed

Inclusion of the dry creekbed to replenish groundwater is a major feature of the project. Photo: San Dieguito Water District

She also wanted to include areas where precipitation and runoff could recharge groundwater and reduce runoff into our waterways. The dry creekbed created with rocks connects to the property’s rain gutters and backyard drainage. Softscaping and mulch also contribute to allowing runoff to percolate down into the watershed.

Okeefe explains that by focusing on native plants, they are waterwise because of their many years of adapting to the region’s local climate, soil conditions, and topography.

The landscaping features a variety of native plants. Photo: San Dieguito Water District

Plants used in the design include a variety of native sages, Monkey Flowers, Penstemon, Buckwheat, Bush Sunflower, Deer Grass, Giant Wild Rye, Yarrow, lavenders, aloes, a variety of succulents, an oak tree and several non-fruiting olive trees.

Smart Irrigation Technology Detects Needs

Drip irrigation was installed using a Racchio irrigation system that can be remotely programmed and controlled. It also detects precipitation events with weather forecasts and will automatically shut off irrigation if weather reports forecast a rain event.

The drip irrigation system can detect rain and shut off to avoid wasting water. Photo: San Dieguito Water District

Okeefe says now that the plants are established, she has shut off the irrigation, which can be used as needed during long dry periods. Okeefe received help with the selection and layout of her smart irrigation and plant selection from Steve McDearmon with Garden Rhythms.

Understanding Every Drop: How Flume & the Water Authority are Shaping the Future of Water Use

August 14, 2025/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Jordan Beane

The San Diego County Water Authority is in the midst of its second year operating a cutting-edge program across the region to help residents and member agencies know — down to the gallon — how the region uses water. From the garden hose to the kitchen faucet, the toilet to the shower, getting a clear understanding of how residents use their water helps resource agencies make the best planning decisions for the future.

The program is a joint venture between the Water Authority and Flume, a California-based company, that collects anonymous data from regional residents and builds a robust understanding of where each drop goes. Flume’s flow sensors are simple to install and provide real-time data about household water use. That provides a big benefit to property owners who can monitor water use from their phones and receive alerts if a leak is detected.

In addition, the program has given the Water Authority a window into trends and datapoints from more than 4,300 Flume devices that would not have been available otherwise. This information allows the Water Authority to see how residents use water over time and how events such as droughts and storms impact regional water use.

The data is aggregated at the regional level from residents who voluntarily installed Flume devices on their water meters, through a grant-funded program managed by the Water Authority. In addition, some local water districts have promoted – or even paid for – the use of flow sensors to reduce leaks and improve water-use efficiency.

A data set showing the kind of information collected by Flume.

The data has provided a detailed look at regional water use in a way that has never been available before. From 2022 to 2025, the Flume devices showed decreasing water use, with households going from 380 gallons per day to 321. This data confirms the general trendlines about water conservation being a way of life across the region. Another trend highlighted by the data was that rain tends to have a greater effect on water use than heat, with storms pushing water use down more than heat increases it. In addition, the devices confirm that outdoor water use continues to outpace indoor water use, making up 63% of the region’s total residential water footprint.

Water Authority Board members aren’t just supporters of the program; some of them are also among the thousands of residents around the region who use Flume devices to understand their own water use. “You can’t manage water use when you don’t know how much you’re using,” Helix Water District Director Kathleen Coates Hedberg said during a recent Board meeting.

The Water Authority’s Water Resource Department will continue to monitor the regionally aggregated data to help agencies across San Diego County better understand where every drop is going, allowing for better water management decisions in the years to come.

Impactos de Tráfico en Dos Sitios Durante Construcción

July 31, 2025/in Features /by Jordan Beane

Empezando la segunda semana de agosto, peatones y automovilistas en Escondido notarán impactos en el tráfico debido a construcción en instalaciones de la Water Authority.

A partir de 11 de agosto, habrá zona de trabajo en Bear Valley Parkway justo al norte de San Pasqual Valley Road donde un carril de bicicleta en Bear Valley Parkway se mantendrá cerrado, lunes a viernes de 7 am a 5 pm.

Un segundo sitio de trabajo estará ubicado en Harding Street, justo al norte de la intersección con East Valley Parkway, donde se cerrarán carriles en ambas direcciones debido a trabajos de construcción nocturnos, que se llevarán a cabo de lunes a viernes, de 5:00 p.m. a 7:00 a.m.

Señales y personal de control de tráfico ayudarán a dirigir la circulación alrededor de las zonas de trabajo. Las actividades de construcción incluirán excavación, corte con sierra, soldadura, colocación de concreto, relleno y pavimentación. Los equipos de trabajo operarán maquinaria pesada equipada con bíperes para señalar movimiento en reversa.

Se anticipa que cada uno de estos trabajos duren aproximadamente cuatro semanas.

En total, las obras del Primer Acueducto abarcan 21 millas, comenzando al norte de Escondido y al este de la carretera interestatal 15, y continuando hacia el sur hasta Slaughterhouse Canyon, terminando al oeste en la presa de San Vicente en Lakeside. A lo largo de su recorrido, la obra atraviesa las comunidades de Escondido, Poway, Rancho Bernardo y zonas no incorporadas del Condado de San Diego.

El Primer Acueducto ha estado en servicio por más de 70 años y abastece a 11 agencias de agua a través del condado. Se calcula que las obras de construcción seguirán hasta el verano de 2026 con mejoras a 99 estructuras conectadas a dos tuberías masivas de agua.

La Autoridad del Agua está coordinando estrechamente con las agencias locales de agua para reducir los impactos a los vecinos y asegurar que no haya interrupciones en el suministro de agua.

Para más información sobre el Proyecto de Mejoramiento de las Instalaciones del Primer Acueducto, incluyendo un mapa interactivo donde los visitantes pueden ver las zonas de trabajo, visite www.sdcwa.org/first-aqueduct. Para hacer preguntas o comentarios llamé al (877) 682-9230 ext. 7004 o envié un correo electrónico a .

Traffic Impacts Planned for Two Escondido Sites During Aqueduct Upgrades

July 31, 2025/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan Beane

Starting the second week of August, pedestrians and motorists in Escondido will notice traffic impacts due to construction work on Water Authority facilities as part of the Southern First Aqueduct Facilities Improvement project.

Beginning on August 11, work will take place on Bear Valley Parkway just north of San Pasqual Valley Road where a traffic lane and a bike lane on Bear Valley Parkway will be closed, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At a second site on Harding Street, just north of the intersection with East Valley Parkway, traffic will be rerouted in the evenings starting on Aug. 18. The southbound traffic lane, left turn lane, and #1 northbound lane will be closed for nighttime construction from 5 pm to 7 am, Monday through Friday.

Signs and flag crews will help direct traffic around the work areas. Construction activities will include excavation, saw cutting, welding, concrete placement, backfill and paving. Work crews will be driving heavy construction equipment with required backup alarms

A map of the worksite on Bear Valley Parkway.

Work at each of these locations is estimated to last four weeks.

This is part of the Water Authority’s work to upgrade the historic First Aqueduct and ensure continued delivery of safe and reliable water supplies for the region.

The Southern First Aqueduct project stretches 21 miles starting north of Escondido and east of Interstate 15 and continuing south to Slaughterhouse Canyon on the west and ending at the San Vicente Reservoir in Lakeside. Along the way, the work crosses the communities of Escondido, Poway, Rancho Bernardo and parts of unincorporated San Diego County.

The First Aqueduct has been in service over 70 years and serves more than 2 million people countywide. Work around the region to improve the First Aqueduct is expected to continue through summer 2026 with upgrades to 99 structures connected to two massive water pipelines.

The Water Authority is coordinating closely with its member agencies to minimize impacts to residents and businesses and ensure there is no interruption to water delivery.

For more information about the Southern First Aqueduct Facilities Improvement Project, including an interactive map where viewers can zoom in to view work areas, visit www.sdcwa.org/first-aqueduct. For questions or comments, call (877) 682-9230 ext. 7004 or send email to .

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