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‘Blob’ Of Warm Pacific Water Is Back — Could Be Trouble For Marine Life And Weather
An ominous warm patch similar to the notorious “blob ” that wreaked havoc along the California coast five years ago has been detected along the West Coast, raising fears among scientists that the fragile ocean ecosystem may be facing another calamity.
A large marine heat wave has warmed the northern Pacific Ocean and is threatening to disrupt sea life from Alaska to Southern California, marine biologists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
Southern California Water Agency Approves $5 Million For Stormwater Pilot
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California on Tuesday, Sept. 10, approved $5 million for a stormwater pilot project to determine the best and most efficient way to capture the tens of billions of gallons of rainwater that flow off roofs and pavement each year.
“A lot of hope has been placed in the potential of stormwater as a local water supply for Southern California,” said Metropolitan Chairwoman Gloria Gray. “We want to better understand that potential, and its cost, as part of our commitment to developing local resources.”
Citizens Water Academy ‘Inspiration’ For Water Agency Board Member
The Citizens Water Academy helps educate civic leaders and many graduates have gone on to become water agency board members in San Diego County.
The application and nomination period remains open for the Fall 2019 class of the San Diego County Water Authority’s pioneering Citizens Water Academy.
The closing date is September 16. More than 700 people have completed the award-winning program since 2014.
The Citizens Water Academy provides an opportunity for emerging civic leaders to learn about visionary local efforts to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for the San Diego region. Participants get an in-depth look at how the Water Authority helps the region’s economy and quality of life through strategic planning, innovative programs, and cost-effective investments.
EPA Action Plan To Boost Water Reuse Across U.S.
The U.S. EPA today released a draft plan to advance water reuse nationally at the WateReuse Association Symposium in San Diego.
The National Water Reuse Action Plan identifies 46 proposed actions organized around 10 strategic objectives, including leadership and collaboration, to support the implementation of water reuse.
“Forty states anticipate experiencing fresh water shortages in certain regions within their borders over the next decade,” said David Ross, EPA’s assistant administrator for water. “Diversifying our nation’s water portfolio must be a nationwide priority, and water reuse has the potential to ensure the viability of our water economy for generations to come.”
Forever Chemicals’ Now Found In State Schools
The water fountains have either been turned off, wrapped in plastic, or fitted with a device to prevent students from using them. Much of the food preparation has moved off campus, and a water jug sits in the kitchen sink, replacing the faucet. The bathrooms are covered with signs that warn students in bold, red letters: “DO NOT DRINK FROM THE SINK.”
Lead In NJ Drinking Water: Suez Adds More Anti-Corrosion Chemical To Water Supply
Suez has begun to adjust the acidity of its water and increase the amount of an anti-corrosion chemical, in the company’s latest effort to lower the amount of lead leaching into some Bergen and Hudson county residents’ drinking water.
It is the first time the company has changed the chemistry of its water since lead levels shot up to 18.3 parts per billion in the second half of 2018, exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 15-parts-per-billion threshold for action.
OPINION: In Going After Trump, California Is Going Too Far With Environmental Legislation
Senate Bill 1 by Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins would require that California ignore new scientific findings on natural resources and water issued after January 19, 2017, the day before the Trump took office. That’s not an exaggeration. The date is actually listed in the bill 21 different times.
We cannot advance the fight for environmental quality by declaring that all science stopped on a specific date. If it’s dumb for the President to close his eyes to science, it’s dumber for us to follow him down that rabbit hole.
But SB 1 is not just dumb, it’s dangerous
Growing Water In the Desert
In my last blog I emphasized both the imperative and the opportunities for ‘growing water’ on irrigated farms in water-scarce regions. As I come across more real-world examples from my research, I’ll share them through this blog (and please share your own stories).
I recently became aware of an analysis conducted by the Yuma County Agriculture Water Coalition that discusses the water-saving efforts of farmers in the far southwestern corner of Arizona.
Yuma County is one of the hottest and driest regions of the US, and it is also one of the most agriculturally productive.
Demolition Of San Onofre Nuclear Plant Comes Before Coastal Commission In The Fall
When the iconic domes of San Onofre’s nuclear reactors are finally demolished, “significant amounts of foundation, footings, and other existing material” are expected to remain, unseen, beneath the bluff on the ocean — at least until its stranded nuclear waste finds another home.
In October, the California Coastal Commission will consider Southern California Edison’s application to remove large portions of the above- and below-grade elements of the silent twin reactors, along with associated infrastructure, and cover what’s left with backfill.
That above-ground demolition work is scheduled to be completed within the next decade — but Edison wants to leave the below-ground structures in place until the waste is finally moved.
