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‘Exceptionally Dangerous’ Heat Wave Could Broil California for Several Days

/in , /by /Fox Weatherby Scott Sistek

An intense and potentially record-setting ridge of high pressure is building across California and the West, threatening days and perhaps more than a week of a dangerous, life-threatening heat wave.

The worst of the heat will be centered in California’s Central Valley, where as many as 10 days or more of 110-degree heat looms. But just about all of California, stretching into western Oregon and western Nevada, will swelter for an extended period.

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Extended California Heat Wave Brings Extreme Health, Fire Risk; Power Shutoffs Likely

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Grace Toohey

Authorities are warning of extreme health and wildfire risks across California this week, as the longest heat wave of the year is set to kick off Tuesday, bringing triple-digit temperatures, with little overnight cooling, to the vast majority of the state.

“This is really just a long-duration heat event that will provide little to no overnight [temperature] relief,” said Antoinette Serrato, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Hanford, Calif. The heat wave is expected to bring dangerous temperatures through the Fourth of July holiday and into early next week in many areas, particularly across Northern California, the Central Valley and southwestern deserts, she said.

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San Diego Water Rates to Increase Monday

/in , /by /ABC 10 News by Myra Wu Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

San Diego water rates will go up by 5.2%. This increase, approved by the City Council last September, includes a 1.8% charge from the San Diego County Water Authority to cover higher costs of imported water and other services.

The rate hike will help fund essential upgrades to the city’s water infrastructure, such as replacing old pipelines and supporting projects like Pure Water San Diego, which aims to ensure a reliable water supply.

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Hello Summer: ‘Long Duration’ Heat Wave to Sweep the Region

/in , /by /Fox 5/KUSIby Amber Coakley

It’s about to heat up in San Diego County, with hot temperatures expected to linger for a bit.

The National Weather Service said a slight cooldown is anticipated for Monday, though short-lived as a warming trend sets in for the week of the Fourth of July holiday. The heat will be most felt away from the coast as high pressure moves into the region.

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Canned Water Made Using Solar-powered ‘Hydropanels’ to Hit US Stores Soon

/in , /by /Interesting Engineeringby Ameya Paleja

Bottled water extracted from the air using sunlight as a power source will soon be available for purchase in US stores. The sustainable solution, dubbed SKY WTR, is a product of Source, a Scottsdale, Arizona, based company.

Bottled water is a  US$350 billion industry that relies on harvesting water from under the ground. Estimates suggest that in the past three decades, 2,150 gigatons of groundwater have been pumped out from Earth.

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Two Congressmen Request Review after Times Report on Central Valley Water Heist

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Jessica Garrison

Two members of Congress have asked the Government Accountability Office to review how vulnerable the Bureau of Reclamation is to water theft following a Los Angeles Times report on an audacious and long-running heist from a federal canal in the Central Valley.

The facts related in the story “raise serious concerns about how widespread water theft is and what Reclamation can do to prevent water theft in the future,” Reps. Jarred Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) wrote in their letter requesting the review.

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California’s $10B Climate Bond Breaks Through Political Gridlock

/in , /by /KQEDby Ezra David Romero

Days before the final deadline, California lawmakers have settled on language for a $10 billion climate bond that will be presented to voters for approval in November.

The primary focus of the bond is “to respond to challenges wrought by climate change by investing in natural and built infrastructure,” according to an overview of the bond. It also includes some funding for programs cut from the state’s budget. At least 40% of the bond must help vulnerable and disadvantaged communities with a median household income of less than 80% of the area average or less than 80% of statewide median household income.

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A Look at How Far Away Some of Southern California’s Water Needs to Travel

/in , /by /The Orange County Registerby Kurt Snibbe

Southern California relies on most of its water coming from a long way away. Here’s a look at several of the aqueducts that keep our taps flowing year-round. California receives 75% of its rain and snow in the watersheds north of Sacramento. However, 80% of water demand comes from the southern two-thirds of the state.

About 25% of the water used in Southern California comes from the Colorado River. Another 30% originates in the northern Sierra. The remaining 45% comes from a mix of what are considered local supplies, which include Los Angeles’ Eastern Sierra deliveries as well as recycling, desalination and groundwater supplies.

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The Water Authority Punted on Extraordinary Rate Increases

/in , /by /Voice of San Diegoby MacKenzie Elmer Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

After hours of debate, San Diego’s water importer (because the region has to buy most of its water from outside the county) decided to raise rates just a smidgen – and put off the doom-iest part of its proposed water price spike until next month.

Why? Well, a lot of local water district representatives (there are 33) weren’t comfortable with how the city of San Diego (the region’s biggest and most powerful water buyer) wanted to try and stave off bigger rate increases. And the city, which has the power to ram through anything it wants, hit the pause button instead.

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Water Community Rushes to Calgary’s Aid Amid Water Crisis

/in , /by /American Water Works Association Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

In times of crises, water utilities stand together to support public safety and reliable service. This was the case recently when the City of Calgary’s water infrastructure suffered a critical blow. On June 5, the City of Calgary issued a notice to the public about a 78-inch feeder main break after reports of massive streams of water spewing out of the ground. The city quickly enacted water restrictions to conserve water. Further evaluation showed that the break was more complex than initially thought, prompting a state of local emergency.

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