Utah appears to be the first state ready to put a full ban on fluoride in public water systems under a bill that doesn’t allow cities or communities to decide whether to add the cavity-preventing mineral.
After abundant rain and moderate snowfall this year in the northern half of the state, California’s largest reservoirs are holding more than 120% of their historical average. But underground, the state’s supply of water for drinking and irrigating crops remains depleted.
The historic First Aqueduct’s critical construction project is at the halfway point, says the San Diego County Water Authority.
The project is intended to ensure the continued delivery of safe and reliable water supplies to the region.
On Tuesday, as Sacramento attempts to advance the Delta Conveyance Project, also known as the Delta Tunnel, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) reintroduced legislation to finally kill this disastrous boondoggle once and for all. The Stop the Delta Tunnel Act would prohibit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) from issuing a federal permit necessary for the project to be implemented.
On Feb. 12, federal, state and local officials joined Channelside Water Resources to commemorate the breach of Pond 15, the return of tidal flow to the area for the first time in 50 years. This is a historic milestone for the Otay River Estuary Restoration Project as Pond 15 has not seen active tidal flow since the 1970s.
The San Diego County Water Authority has reached the halfway mark in a significant infrastructure project to extend the life of the historic First Aqueduct, a critical component of the region’s water supply system. The $66 million Southern First Aqueduct Facilities Improvement project aims to enhance the reliability of water delivery by renovating 99 structures along two large-diameter pipelines stretching from North County to South County.
Last week’s rain and floods in California may soon give way to concerns about drought in the West as spring kicks off the region’s dry season. This year’s storms won’t erase looming drought worries across the entire southwestern U.S., experts fear. Of particular concern are the giant reservoirs of the Colorado River basin, Lakes Mead and Powell, which remain far below capacity.
The water outlook in California is bright, with major reservoirs exhibiting strong levels and a near-average snowpack, according to the latest data.
The state’s three largest reservoirs – Trinity, Shasta and Oroville – are currently holding more than 75% of their capacity, a significant boost compared to typical levels for this time of year.
Projects to turn wastewater into drinkable water are progressing in San Diego and East County, but their costs have once again spiked.
Last month’s wildfires in California destroyed thousands of homes, killed at least 29 people and will likely cost hundreds of billions of dollars. President Trump has claimed that state officials made the disaster worse by how they managed the state’s complex water system. William Brangham looks at those allegations and the realities of water management in the nation’s most populous state.
