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LA Lawns Lose Lots of Water: 70B Gallons a Year

/in /by /Phys.Org
In summer 2010, Los Angeles was losing about 100 gallons of water per person per day to the atmosphere through the evaporation and plant uptake of lawns and trees. Lawns accounted for 70 percent of the water loss, while trees accounted for 30 percent, according to a University of Utah study published in Water Resources Research. The results, based on measurements taken before Los Angeles enacted mandatory watering restrictions in 2014, shows a pattern of systemic overwatering in the city’s lawns, and a surprising water efficiency in tree cover. Further, the researchers found a correlation between water loss and household income.
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Santa Monica Opens Water Reuse Project at Los Amigos Park

/in /by /Santa Monica Daily Pressby Marina Andalon

On May 23, the City officially opened the Los Amigos Park Storm Water Harvesting and Direct Use Demonstration Project. Officials said the project is another way for the City to maintain the strong environmental commitment within the community while helping move the city toward water conservation, water self-sufficiency and reduced water usage. The project is located within John Muir Elementary School and was collaborative effort between the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica – Malibu Unified School District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

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EDITORIAL: A Strong Bill to Keep Public Agencies Public

/in /by /Ventura County Star

One of the news media’s most important functions in a democracy is to constantly remind public agencies about that “public” part of their name. Too often, government officials try to conduct the public’s business in private, and the results can be disastrous for taxpayers (just ask those in the city of Bell). The California Public Records Act is a key tool in keeping public agencies public. Enacted nearly 50 years ago, the law assures all residents and the media have prompt access to most records — so we know what government is up to and can be involved in important decisions.

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Stormwater Harvesting Project Unveiled At Santa Monica Park

/in /by /LA Canyon News by Joanne

On Tuesday, May 23, at 10:30 a.m., the city of Santa Monica unveiled its Stormwater Harvesting and Direct Use Demonstration Project at a ceremony at Los Amigos Park, located near John Muir Elementary School at 500 Hollister Avenue. Mayor Ted Winterer, Chief Sustainability Officer and Assistant Public Works Director Dean Kubani, City Engineer Rick Valte, and other officials were present at the event. The project, financed by a grant from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and the Clean Beaches and Ocean Parcel Tax (Measure V), is a collaborative effort between the city, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD), and the MWD.

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Howes Officially Approved for MWD

/in /by /Big Bear Grizzly by Natalie Williams

The Big Bear Municipal Water District Division 2 spot is no longer vacant, after the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the appointment of Frank Howes to the seat at its May 23 meeting. The MWD originally had 60 days to fill the board vacancy, after Mary Ann Lewis resigned Feb. 28. Exceeding the deadline by 16 days, the decision went to the Board of Supervisors and was no longer at the discretion of the MWD board. The MWD board provided a recommendation for Howes.

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Positive Test for Lead in Water at Ira Harbison Elementary School

/in /by /NBC 7 San Diego by Wendy Fry

Officials confirm there are unusually high levels of lead in one water source at Ira Harbison Elementary School in the National School District. A sample was collected April 11 from a fountain at the southern exterior of the building, according to the results released by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The sample was collected and tested by the Sweetwater Authority. As school districts test for lead in their drinking water, they are required by the state to fix problems if they discover levels greater than 15 parts per billion (ppb). One sample from Ira Harbison showed lead levels at 20 ppb.

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New Results Released in San Diego Unified Schools Tests for Lead in Water

/in /by /NBC 7 San Diego

In the most recent test results released by San Diego Unified School District, unusually high levels of lead were found in eight schools. In each case, the levels measured were below state guidelines requiring the district to take action. As school districts test for lead in their drinking water, they are required by the state to fix problems if they discover lead in water at levels greater than 15 parts per billion (ppb).

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BLOG: Despite A Wet Year, Some California Wildlife Areas Miss Out On Water

/in /by /Water Deeply (New York)by Matt Weiser

On April 11, the United States Bureau of Reclamation announced that all of its California Central Valley Project water customers will receive 100 percent of their contract supplies this year, for the first time since 2006. This is a remarkable turnaround after five lean drought years, during which some of its agricultural customers received no water at all. But the bureau didn’t mention one group of customers missing out on this liquid largesse: wildlife refuges. There are 19 state and federal wildlife refuges spanning California’s Central Valley, from Willows to Bakersfield.

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Gov. Brown: Get Out Of California Unless You Can Afford It

/in /by /Fox & Hounds Dailyby Aubrey Bettencourt

California’s epic drought is officially over. As drought-related mandatory water conservation orders end, ordinary citizens’ water, sewer, utility rates and other water-related costs continue to rise. East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) recently announced two water rate hikes, one of 9.5 percent in July and another next year of 9 percent. Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) is countering with two increases of 7 percent each. San Mateo residents learned recently of plans to raise their sewage rates 36%. These and other rate-hike stories are common across our state.

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A Small Invasive Shellfish is Playing Havoc with Central Basin’s Budget

/in /by /The Whittier Daily Newsby Mike Sprague

Resolving contamination issues with the quagga mussel, a small invasive shellfish, could make the difference between a slightly balanced budget and one that is seriously in the red for Central Basin Municipal Water District. The approximate $50.7 million budget, approved Monday by the Board of Directors, projects $1.7 million in revenue coming from selling water to the Water Replenishment District of Southern California. Only right now, there’s no way to get water to the WRD because Los Angeles County won’t allow Central Basin’s supplier, the Metropolitan Water District, to deliver because of the contamination issues.

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