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Western Reservoirs Could Run Dry in 3 Years, Top Official Warns

/in , , /by /E&E Newsby Jennifer Yachnin

A top Centennial State official warned Colorado River Basin states that the system’s federal reservoirs could effectively empty in a few short years barring aggressive reductions to water demands.

Colorado River Water Conservation District General Manager Andy Mueller painted a bleak future for the basin’s seven states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — on Friday, during his organization’s annual conference in Grand Junction, Colo., on the river’s future.

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UCSB Scientists See the End of ‘Normal’ Climate

/in , , /by /Santa Barbara Independentby Kit Stolz

In August, Governor Gavin Newsom and officials from the Department of Water Resources released a new Water Supply Strategy, saying that because of California’s “hotter, drier climate,” the state needed to find at least 10 percent more water to supply its farms, cities, and industry by 2040.

“We are experiencing extreme, sustained drought conditions in California and across the American West caused by hotter, drier weather,” states the plan. “Our warming climate means that a greater share of the rain and snowfall we receive will be absorbed by dry soils, consumed by thirsty plants, and evaporated into the air.”

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Temporary Watering Ban Lifted in Los Angeles County as Pipeline Repair Completed Early

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

Southern California water officials on Monday lifted a temporary ban on outdoor watering in portions of Los Angeles County after completing emergency repairs on a critical pipeline two days early.

The 36-mile Upper Feeder pipeline, operated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, is a major conduit for supplying water to the region from the Colorado River. Officials shut it down Sept. 6 so they could address a leak, and called on nearly 4 million residents to halt all outdoor irrigation — including sprinkling and hand watering — for 15 days while they did the work.

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City Finds More Issues at 104-Year-Old Hodges Dam, Repair Timeline Pushed Back to 2023

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Elizabeth Ireland Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

While repairing parts of Hodges Reservoir Dam, city workers found additional defects that need to be addressed, likely delaying the completion of repairs by several months, the city announced Monday.

During a prior inspection, city workers identified areas in the dam wall that required repair and needed to be sealed. To access areas on the dam for repair, the water level of the reservoir was lowered 18 feet to an elevation of 275 feet by transferring water to other reservoirs and treatment plants, officials said.

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Harder Pushes Bill That Would Stop Tunnel

/in , , /by /Manteca Bulletinby Dennis Wyatt

Congress could kill the Delta tunnel.

Under legislation introduced by Congressman Josh Harder and co-sponsored by Congressman John Garamendi, the Army Corps of Engineering would be banned from issuing a required permit the state needs to build the $16 billion Delta Conveyance project known simply as the Delta Tunnel.

The Corps has a pivotal role in the project given the water that would be diverted is stored behind Shasta Dam.

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Phoenix Won’t Limit Water Use Because California Would Take Saved Gallons

/in , , /by /Newsweek by Anna Skinner

One Arizona water official said Phoenix won’t require residents to conserve water yet, fearing that the action wouldn’t actually benefit the Colorado River and instead would be diverted to other states struggling with drought.

Cynthia Campbell, the water resource management adviser for the city, told WBUR’s Peter O’Dowd that the city won’t mandate that its residents save water by initiating bans on watering lawns. It will, however, pay residents to kill their grass and replace it with a more drought-resistant landscaping option, like gravel.

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OPINION: Gavin Newsom Can Stop Water Projects From Drowning In Red Tape

/in , , /by /Forbesby James Broughel

Earlier this month, the California Department of Water Resources announced a new round of funding for desalination projects in the state. Six million dollar grants will be made available for new projects that help expand the Golden State’s fresh water supply. The move comes on the heels of a new water initiative Governor Gavin Newsom has launched to address California’s historic drought.

Desalination is the process of removing salts and other minerals from ocean or brackish water, thereby making water safe to be consumed or used for agriculture or other needs. A 2019 study estimated there are just under 16,000 desalination plants in operation worldwide, spread across 177 countries. It’s a rapidly growing industry, with reverse osmosis technology in particular behind much of the capacity growth in recent years (see figure).

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Find the Right Plant for Your Landscape Plans Online

/in , , /by /Water News Network

If you’re looking to upgrade your landscape or just love gardens, it can be challenging to choose the right plant that will thrive within your WaterSmart Living landscape plans for your specific conditions.

The online plant finder WaterSmart Landscaping in San Diego County can assist you through a comprehensive database of choices well suited to this region’s Mediterranean climate.

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Southern California Wastes a Lot of Water Despite Historic Drought. But it Can Teach the Bay Area One Big Lesson

/in , , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby Kurtis Alexander Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

When it comes to wasting water amid historic drought, Californians are good at pointing fingers.  Last month, criticism was showered on Hollywood’s elite, including Sylvester Stallone, Kim Kardashian and Kevin Hart, who were accused of using water excessively. Some celebrity households consumed thousands of gallons of water per day during particularly dry times, bolstering Southern California’s reputation for recklessly indulging in big lawns, pools and shiny, clean cars. But given the bad rap that Southern California gets, is the Bay Area really that much better at stewarding its water?

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Column: Help is on the Way for Low-Income Residents Struggling with Water, Sewer Bills

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Michael Smolens Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

In California, low-income residents can get ongoing state help to pay for electricity, health care coverage and telephone service, among other things.

But for the most part, people struggling to make ends meet can’t get similar assistance for water and sewer bills.

That’s changing for the immediate future, and maybe in the long run as well.

People in need can apply for one-time grants of up to $2,000 for water and sewer debts through the federally funded Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, which began rolling out earlier this summer.

Locally, eligibility requirements and applications can be found on a webpage of the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty of San Diego County (maacproject.org/lihwap). MAAC, the San Diego County Water Authority and Campesinos Unidos recently announced they are teaming up to spread the word and assist with the program.

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