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July Was The Hottest Month Ever Recorded

/in , , /by /KQED-FM (San Francisco, Calif.)by Kevin Stark

In the latest sign the Earth is undergoing unprecedented warming, European scientists said Monday that July was the hottest month ever recorded. “While July is usually the warmest month of the year for the globe, according to our data it also was the warmest month recorded globally, by a very small margin,” Jean-Noël Thépaut, head of the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, said in a statement. Last week, citing the latest data, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres told reporters that the world is facing a “climate emergency.” He noted the July numbers were even more significant because the previous record-beating month, July 2016, occurred during one of the strongest El Nino’s on record.

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Data Saves Water

/in , , /by /Water and Waste Digest (Scottsdale, Ariz.)by Henrique Costa

The world is enduring a water crisis at the hands of rising demand, prevalent leaks, reduction in supply and an uptick in droughts, and businesses, municipalities and individuals are feeling the pressure to use water resources more responsibly. The New York Times reported the average water pipeline in the U.S. will be 45 years old by 2020, and some pipelines have been in the ground for up to 150 years. Beyond leaking, corrosion and lead contamination are just a few risks and challenges with which agencies and utilities must contend, or they will risk sacrificing significant time and money to rebuild, repair or renovate these aging infrastructure systems.

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Tribe, Fishing Groups Sue Over Klamath River Water Allocations

/in , /by /Jefferson Public Radio (Ashland, Ore.)by Jes Burns

Fishing groups and tribes have filed a lawsuit challenging new endangered species protection guidelines for the Klamath River. The suit targets the biological opinion, which is an assessment of how the Bureau of Reclamation manages river flow, irrigation water and levels in Upper Klamath Lake to ensure protection of coho salmon and two species of sucker fish. The newest opinion was finalized earlier this year. The lawsuit filed by the Yurok Tribe, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations and the Institute for Fisheries Resource says the biological opinion is too permissive, allowing irrigation withdrawals at the expense of fish.

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Olivenhain Water District Offers Free Recycled Water

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Deborah Sullivan Brennan Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Residential customers of the Olivenhain Municipal Water District can get free recycled water through a program to conserve water and lower costs for consumers. According to the San Diego County Water Authority, “water recycling is the treatment and disinfection of municipal wastewater to provide a water supply suitable for non-drinking purposes.” Olivenhain produces recycled water by collecting wastewater from the 4S Ranch and Rancho Cielo areas, and processing it at the 4S Ranch Water Reclamation Facility in San Diego, the district states. The facility produces over one million gallons of recycled water per day, which is highly treated to meet irrigation standards.

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Creative WaterSmart Landscaping Wins Sweetwater Authority’s 2019 Landscape Contest

/in , /by /Water News Network

Bonita residents Efren and Ily Niervas won the Sweetwater Authority 2019 Landscape Contest after transforming their front yard from a traditional thirsty expanse of lawn to a watersmart landscaping approach. When the Niervas moved to their home in 2017, they realized the cost of watering their yard, with a large lawn and assorted shrubbery, was too high. They decided to change their landscape and attended home improvement events and expos as part of their research. They also did online research. The research paid off, as the Niervas thoughtfully designed their own xeriscape plan for their creative watersmart landscaping.

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Deadly Encinitas Cliff Collapse Is A Warning Sign For California Coast

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Soumya Karlamangla

The deadly cliff collapse in Encinitas last week raised questions about the stability of large swaths of the state that are lined by bluffs, many of which support houses or offer enticing patches of shade for families relaxing on the beach. Friday’s collapse, which killed three people, was a tragic consequence of sea cliffs’ natural erosion process, experts say. Chunks of bluffs regularly fall off to create the beach below, so all beach bluffs should be considered unstable, said Brian Ketterer, coastal division chief for California State Parks.

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OPINION: Klamath Dams Critical To Fighting Wildfires

/in , , /by /Herald and News (Klamath Falls, Ore.)by The Siskiyou County Natural Resources Department

Wildfire season is upon us once again in the Klamath Basin. When homes and lives are at stake in a wildfire, nothing is more important than having firebreaks and a readily available water source. That’s exactly what’s provided by the reservoirs created by dams on the Klamath River. The fact that the dams and those reservoirs are being targeted for removal by the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) is a great source of worry for residents, firefighters, and the County of Siskiyou. Citizen safety is a primary responsibility of the county. The reservoirs of Copco and Iron Gate have proven critical to saving local communities from wildfire for many years.

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Facilitator To Aid Interior On Water Talks

/in , /by /Herald and News (Klamath Falls, Ore.)by Holly Dillemuth

A coalition aimed at bringing multiple parties together to discuss the future of water resources in the Klamath Basin is hiring an additional facilitator to help with the effort. Alan Mikkelsen, senior advisor to the Secretary of the Interior on water and western resource issues, said Friday he is continuing to take part in the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” meetings in addition to the facilitator. Mikkelsen met with the coalition at the building housing the Bureau of Land Management office in Medford on July 30 and 31. “This is supplementing what we’ve been doing,” Mikkelsen said, of the facilitator position.

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The Days Have Been Getting Shorter Since June. So Why Does The Weather Keep Getting Warmer?

/in , , /by /The Washington Postby Jeremy Deaton

It’s been a little over five weeks since the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Since June 21, the days have grown progressively shorter. The sun has been in retreat, casting off a little less light every day, beaming down a little less heat. And yet, in many parts of the United States, the weather has only gotten warmer. Scientists have a name for this phenomenon: seasonal lag. In many places, the hottest day of the year comes weeks, or even months, after the longest day of the year. The reason for that has a lot to do with how water soaks up heat.

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Chemistry In Pictures Water Photo Contest Winners

/in , /by /Chemical and Engineering Newsby Alexandra A. Taylor

The ACS Fall 2019 National Meeting & Exposition in San Diego will explore all things water. To celebrate, Chemistry in Pictures held a water-themed contest in partnership with the ACS Committee on Environmental Improvement throughout the month of June. We looked for high-quality entries with a splash of creativity that help demonstrate scientific concepts. The winners featured here will receive a reusable water bottle and a cash prize. Look for these photos on display at ACS San Diego.

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