You are now in Media Coverage San Diego County category.

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

‘Tastes Like Water’: How a US Facility is Recycling Sewage to Drink

/in , /by /The Guardianby Katharine Gammon

As the pumps whir around us, Denis Bilodeau motions to the liquid in the vats below. It looks like iced tea, but in fact it’s secondary treated sewage, cleaned of any solids by the plant next door. In less than an hour, and after three steps of processing, we will be drinking it – as pure water. The Groundwater Replenishment System facility in Orange County, California, houses the pipes, filters and pumps to move up to 130m gallons each day – enough for 1 million people – processing it from dark to clear.

Full Story

Newsom’s Power Play on the Delta Tunnel

/in , /by /LA Timesby George Skelton

Gov. Gavin Newsom is up to his old tricks, trying to ram major policy change through the state Legislature on short notice. And again lawmakers are pushing back. Not only lawmakers, but the Legislature’s nonpartisan, independent chief policy analyst. The Legislative Analyst‘s Office has recommended that legislators hold off voting on what the governor seeks because they’re being pressed to act without enough time to properly study the complex matter.

Full Story

At This Point, Colorado River Negotiators Are Basically in Their Own ‘Conclave’

/in , /by /Kuerby Alex Hager

Closed-door negotiations about the future of the Colorado River are at a standstill. The news of the day is that there’s barely any news. So, when more than 300 water experts got together for an annual conference this week, they had little to do besides wring their hands, listen for crumbs of news, and talk about how they would do things differently if they were on the inside of those negotiations.

Full Story

Water Authority Floats Lower Rate Hike — Council Says Not Good Enough

/in , /by /Voice of San Diegoby Tessa Balc Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Slowly but surely the San Diego County Water Authority has scaled back on next year’s proposed water rate increase. Officials initially proposed an 18 percent increase, then lowered their proposal to 12 percent. On Tuesday, they came down on the rate hike again, suggesting to the San Diego City Council an increase of 10.4 percent. That wasn’t good enough for several councilmembers.

Full Story

Should a Discounted Water Rate for San Diego Farmers Go Away?

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Phillip Molnar Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

San Diego County’s cash-strapped water authority is considering a plan that could remove a discount it gives to local farmers — something farmers claim could put them out of business. The authority gives a roughly 25% discount to about 1,000 farmers, who grow everything from flowers to avocados. Critics say removing the discount is shortsighted because it threatens to kill off a customer class the water authority can’t afford to lose. At the same time, rates for other customers may increase to cover the authority’s costs.

Full Story

The Water Authority Built San Diego’s Economy. Support It; Don’t Tear It Down

/in , , /by /Voice of San Diegoby Past Chairs of the Chamber of Commerce Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

In late 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis produced some eye-catching numbers about our region. It found our gross domestic product (GDP) had reached roughly $262 billion. That’s bigger than 25 U.S. states and countries like Greece, Hungary and Morocco. It’s proof the path San Diego has been on over the last 30 years – a diversified economy that supports entrepreneurs and working families alike – has had positive results. Yet that success was not always a given.

Full Story