You are now in Media Coverage San Diego County category.

San Diego is Seeing More Weather That Fuels Wildfires

/in , /by /Axios San Diegoby Kate Murphy and Nadia Lopez

Hot, dry and windy weather that fuels wildfires is becoming more common in San Diego County and much of the western U.S. amid climate change, a new analysis finds. Why it matters: What used to be several months of fire season is stretching in some places into a yearlong phenomenon, straining fire departments and others tasked with controlling or containing blazes. Driving the news: The number of hot, dry and windy — fire weather — days rose by 37 in the Southwest and 21 in the West on average between 1973 and 2024, per an analysis from Climate Central, a climate research group.

Full Story

San Diego County Water Authority and Metropolitan Water District End 15-Year Dispute With Settlement Agreement

/in , /by /Hoodlineby Ben J. Acostas

After a prolonged period of legal strife, the San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California have called a truce, ending a 15-year dispute over water rates and pricing. This settlement is a significant step towards cooperation in managing Southern California’s water resources, which impact nearly 19 million residents.

Full Story

In the Arizona Desert, a Farm Raising Fish Raises Questions About Water Use

/in , /by /Fox 5 San Diegoby Melina Walling, Annika Hammerschlag, and Joshua A. Bickel

Storks scatter, white against blue water, as Dan Mohring’s pickup truck rumbles down the dirt road. He’s towing a trailer full of ground-up beef, chicken, fish and nutrient bits behind him, ready to be shot out of a cannon into the ponds below. It’s time to feed the fish. Mohring fires up the machine and the food flies out in a rainbow arc. Then the water comes alive.

Full Story

See Which US Cities Report ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water

/in , /by /CBS 8 San Diegoby Austin Fast

Water pouring from the faucets of at least 42 million Americans is contaminated with unacceptable levels of “forever chemicals,” according to a USA TODAY analysis of records the Environmental Protection Agency released June 2. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a family of chemicals engineered to be nearly indestructible. Studies have shown they can accumulate over time in human bodies, leading to certain cancers and other health complications.

Full Story

San Diego City Council Approves Ordinance to Protect Tenants from Utility Overcharges

/in , /by /MSNby Molly Sheets

The San Diego City Council unanimously approved the Residential Tenant Utility Charges Ordinance on Monday, aimed at preventing landlords from overcharging tenants for essential city-provided utility services. The new measure, spearheaded by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, covers water, wastewater and waste management services.

Full Story

OPINION: California’s Water Crisis is a Question of Infrastructure: It’s Time for the Delta Conveyance Project

/in , /by /Maven's Notebookby Charley Wilson and Richard Lambros

California has often positioned itself as a leader in responding to the dangers of climate change. From pioneering clean energy initiatives to enforcing some of the strictest emissions regulations in the nation, the state has consistently taken bold steps to prepare for the future. Yet when it comes to water infrastructure, which is also an important part of our response to climate change, we are falling dangerously behind.

Full Story

End to Longtime Water Agency Feud Will Benefit VC Ratepayers

/in , /by /Valley Roadrunnerby newsdesk Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the San Diego County Water Authority June 2 announced the settlement of a 15-year legal dispute over rates and the price term of an exchange agreement between the agencies. At a news conference in San Diego, leaders from two of the state’s largest water agencies hailed the conclusion of all pending litigation, highlighting their commitment to fostering greater teamwork on a range of issues that affect nearly 19 million Southern California residents. The settlement dismisses all pending appeals, maintaining earlier judicial decisions on various matters.

Full Story

‘Dead on Arrival:’ State Sen. Cabaldon, Delta Caucus Draw ‘Red Line’ on Fast-Tracking Delta Tunnel Project

/in , /by /CapRadioby Sarit Laschinsky, Vicki Gonzalez

For decades, California officials have debated and discussed various projects to redirect more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta toward communities and farms in the southern portion of the state. The latest iteration of these plans is the Delta Conveyance Project, a single tunnel along the Sacramento River stretching just south of Clarksburg near the town of Hood, to a reservoir near Livermore.

Full Story

Salton Sea is Emitting Foul-Smelling Hydrogen Sulfide Gas, Triggering Health Concerns

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Ian James

On scorching days when winds blow across the California desert, the Salton Sea regularly gives off a stench of decay resembling rotten eggs. New research has found that the shrinking lake is emitting the foul-smelling gas hydrogen sulfide more frequently and at higher levels than previously measured. The findings document how the odors from the Salton Sea add to the air quality problems and health concerns in communities near the lake, where windblown dust drifts from exposed stretches of lakebed and where people suffer from high rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

Full Story

Facing an Algae Bloom, Sweetwater Authority May Need More Water

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Philip Salata

Facing its largest seasonal algal bloom in 20 years, the Sweetwater Authority may need to buy water to address the problem. At its May 28 board meeting, the South Bay agency agreed to increase its budget for the year in case it must purchase more water to dilute the water supply. The agency says doing so would help mitigate changes to the water’s taste and odor caused by the algae. With the new budget approved, the agency will gauge whether it will need to go through with the purchase, said Justin Brazil, the authority’s water quality director.

Full Story