You are now in San Diego County category.

Court Ruling Throws a Wrench In Two Big Upcoming Water Decisions

The San Diego County Water Authority – and San Diego ratepayers – were dealt a major legal loss this week that could leave local water customers back on the hook for billions of dollars over the next several decades. For years, San Diego water officials have argued the region’s major supplier of water – the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California – charges too much to deliver water to San Diego from the Colorado River. In 2015, a lower court judge sided with the Water Authority.

Bureau Of Reclamation: ‘No Chance’ Of Lake Mead Water Shortage In 2018

When Rose Davis read news reports last week that Nevada’s Lake Mead would sink by about 20 feet by January 2019, she jumped out of her seat. Davis is a media relations spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and the announced decline came as a surprise – especially because BOR, which measures the water levels at Lake Mead, had predicted no such decline. According to Davis, water levels at Lake Mead remain stable, and the Bureau predicts no water shortages in leading up to 2019.

Appeals Court Strikes Millions in Damages for San Diego Water Provider

A California appeals court dealt San Diego’s water provider a major blow on Friday after it ruled a lower court erred in awarding millions in damages due to a series of apparent overcharges. The California First District Court of Appeal found that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which supplies water to most Southern California residents, abided by regulations in charging the San Diego County Water Authority for water it delivered to the agency from the Colorado River.

San Diego County Water Authority Adopts $1.58 Billion Budget, 3.7 Percent Rate Hike In 2018

Water rates across San Diego County will soon go up after the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) adopted a $1.58 billion budget and a 3.7 percent rate hike during a public hearing Thursday. On May 18, the Water Authority announced it would push for the rate hike for 2018 to its 24 member agencies for both treated and untreated water. The budget for the fiscal years 2018 and 2019 was presented to the Water Authority’s board on May 22, along with the proposal for a rate hike.

Court Deals San Diego Water Officials a Big Loss

San Diego water officials were dealt a major legal loss Wednesday that could leave local water customers on the hook for billions of dollars over the next several decades. For years, San Diego water officials have argued that the region’s major supplier of water, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, has been charging too much to deliver water to San Diego from the Colorado River. But on Wednesday, an appellate court found that San Diego water customers are, by and large, only being asked to pay their fair share to use a statewide water delivery system.

San Diego Water Rate Dispute Continues, Expected To Go To California Supreme Court

Damages awarded to the San Diego County Water Authority in a long-running legal dispute over rates need to be recalculated, a panel of state appellate justices ruled Wednesday.  The ruling by the three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco amounted to a split decision for the Water Authority, which sued the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California multiple times over the amount it charged the SDCWA to transport imported water from the Colorado River.

 

U.S. House OK’s Streamlining Water Project Permit Process

Water agencies in Colorado are singing the praises of a bill passed Thursday in the U.S. House of Representatives that would streamline the permitting process for major water projects.H.B. 1654, introduced in April by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., would make establish the federal Bureau of Reclamation as the lead agency for permitting water storage projects and coordinate the interests of all federal agencies in the permitting process. It also would coordinate information among federal, state and local governments to reduce redundant requirements in the process.

 

Keeping An Eye On Lake Mead

Arizona risks losing water rights because of a lingering, nearly two-decade long drought in the Colorado River that could restrict water use ranging from farmers’ crops to how many households receive water, state water experts say. Calcium rings around Lake Mead tell the story of declining water levels, with cream markings permanently decorating the canyon walls that shows high levels that haven’t been seen since 1983. Current surface elevation is at 1,081 feet. If it drops another six feet, water to Arizona will likely be cut, according to an Arizona budget document.

OPINION: Why Go For Desal When California Has Cheaper Options?

While winter rains have refilled California reservoirs and dumped near-record snow on the mountains, communities across the state are wisely seeking ways reduce their vulnerability to future droughts. One option some are considering is seawater desalination. Tapping the vast ocean seems like a promising solution, and proponents often tout Australia and Israel, which have adopted this technology. We agree that California should look at experiences in other parts of the world. But we need to have all the facts and make the right decisions for our communities.

Padre Dam Customers Hit With Another Rate Hike

Despite cutting their water use by nearly 30 percent over the past nine years, Padre Dam Water District customers were hit with another five years of higher rates by its board, which voted unanimously June 21 to trigger the new charges starting Nov. 1. At a required public hearing explaining the reasons behind the rate increase, five of about 30 residents attending the meeting spoke out against the proposal.