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OMWD Board to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Water Charges

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribune Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Olivenhain Municipal Water District will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct.16 to receive comments on proposed water charges. The proposed charges would increase a residential customer’s bill with average usage by less than five percent, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, according to a news release.

OMWD buys all of its drinking water supply from its wholesaler, San Diego County Water Authority. Buying wholesale water makes up approximately 60 percent of OMWD’s operating costs. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, SDCWA will increase the price OMWD pays for water by 14 percent.

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San Diego County Set to Meet Water Demands Through Sept. 30, 2025

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Brooke Binkowski Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

San Diego County is in a good place to meet water demands through the next water year, which began Tuesday, officials announced.

The 12-month water year cycle begins Oct. 1 for counts of snowfall and precipitation for the next year. The San Diego County Water Authority, which brings in new leadership Tuesday, said that two consecutive wet winters have the area prepared for water needs, even with La Niña conditions likely to replace wet El Niño weather this winter.

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Report: SD County has Enough Water for Next Year, Even with La Niña

/in , /by /NBC 7 Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

San Diego County is well set to meet water demands through the water year 2025, even with La Niña conditions likely to replace wet El Niño weather this winter, it was announced Tuesday.

Oct. 1 serves as the start of the 12-month water year cycle, counting winter snowfall and summer precipitation for the next year. For the San Diego County Water Authority, which brings in new leadership Tuesday, two consecutive wet winters have the area prepared for water needs regardless of weather.

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National Council of Negro Women’s 56th Annual Awards Luncheon

/in , /by /The San Diego Voice & Viewpointby Tihut Tamrat

Eight beautiful, intelligent, selfless, and phenomenal women — including San Diego County Water Authority’s Karla Sanchez — inspired many at the Liberty Station Conference Center on Saturday, September 21st. From 11am-3pm the San Diego Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), whose mission is to lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families, and communities, celebrated and treated these eight women and their supportive families to a luncheon and an afternoon filled with tunes, delicious food, and great company to share their accomplishments with.

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Western Water Managers Prepare for Dueling Threats of Flood and Drought Amid Uncertain Weather Outlook

/in , /by /The Hillby Sharon Udasin

Western water managers are preparing for an upcoming season of potential weather extremes, but they remain uncertain as to which shape these events will take.

“We are really in a state of preparing for extremes in the 2025 water year. It’s really actually been a decade of extremes,” said Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources, at a Thursday briefing.

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Biden Administration Inks Deals to Bring Major Relief to Colorado River’s Biggest Reservoir

/in , /by /The Hillby Sharon Udasin

The Biden administration and southwestern Colorado River users have partnered on a large-scale conservation effort poised to bring significant relief to the region’s key reservoir, officials announced Wednesday.

The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation and Southern California stakeholders signed two short-term “Bucket 1” agreements — funded by the Inflation Reduction Act — to conserve more than 717,000 acre-feet of water by 2026.

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Retirements by Water and Wastewater Plant Operators are Leading to Workforce Shortages

/in , /by /Detroit Public Radioby Lester Graham

Across the U.S., drinking water and wastewater utilities are losing experienced workers at an escalating rate. It’s part of the “silver tsunami” of baby boomer retirements.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that “silver tsunami” is just beginning to sweep across the nation.

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OPINION: Yes on Proposition 4 Now or Pay More Later

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Laura Engeman and Christopher Anthony

Changing climate conditions are affecting our health, lives and economy. Just consider what San Diegans endured over the last year.

In recent weeks, a prolonged heat wave kept temperatures in the three-digit range, toxic smoke migrating from wildfires up north prompted air quality alerts, and area hillsides thick with dry brush caught fire. In January, nearly 1,200 people were displaced from flooding after 150 billion gallons of rain fell in six hours.

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California Cracks Down on Another Central Valley Farm Area for Groundwater Depletion

/in , /by /Phys Orgby Ian James

California water regulators are cracking down on a second farming area in the San Joaquin Valley for failing to take adequate steps to curb overpumping that is depleting groundwater, causing the land to sink and damaging a canal that transports water for 1 million acres of farmland and more than 250,000 people.

The State Water Resources Control Board has voted unanimously to place the Tule groundwater subbasin on probationary status, a step that brings additional state oversight, new water fees and requirements for most well owners to report how much they are pumping.

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Top Aide to San Diego Mayor Gloria Tapped as Water Authority Board Chair

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Jennifer Vigil

A prominent aide to San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria will start a two-year term as chair of the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors on Oct. 1.

Nick Serrano, Gloria’s deputy chief of staff, has served as vice chair of the board for the past two years while representing the city. He was unanimously elected as chair Thursday and will serve with incoming vice chair Frank Hilliker from the Lakeside Water District, and incoming secretary Joy Lyndes from the San Dieguito Water District.

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